Okay, I am about 99% sure this will be the coolest review of 2009. (Hey, I can’t see past July on the schedule so you never know!) I am 110% sure it’s the coolest review so far! And I used one of my Flip Mino—one of my most favorite reviews—to help vlog about how cool the HP Vivienne Tam Edition makes me look amazing the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition is and how much I love it…and my daughter loves it, and my husband loves it, and my babysitter loves it and all my Twitter girlfriends love it… It is THE must-have gift for Mother’s Day!
First let’s judge this notebook by it’s cover. The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition (I call her Vivi for short) is a digital clutch by award-winning designer Vivienne Tam. The cover features a peony design in scrumptious violets and reds, which you can find throughout her Spring 2009 collection. I only just found out the colors represent happiness, prosperity and good fortune in the Chinese culture. The “Enter” key even features the double happiness symbol! (So that’s what that symbol means!) If the case weren’t yummy enough, the Vivi comes with it sown protective Vivienne Tam silk sleeve…this baby has more silk than my closet!
This mini-me version of a laptop (aka “digital clutch”) is only 10 inches long by 6.5 inches deep by less than 1 inch high and less than 2.5 pounds. The Vivi features a 10.1-inch diagonal HP Brightview Infinity widescreen display, HP Mini webcam, integrated mic, stereo speakers and a 92% full-size keyboard. But would I find substance when I looked beyond its chic and sexy exterior? Do runways have models?
Inside the Vivi you’ll find Microsoft Windows XP, an Intel Atom processor, 60GB of hard drive space, WiFi and Bluetooth. (Yes, I sound like I know what I’m talking about but it’s more my husband telling me all this stuff is super nifty.) There are a slew of other impressive features but I’m all girl and get distracted by pretty things. You’re lucky I looked further than the peonies!
Size: Fits perfectly in my Kate Spade knock-off (see photo above).
Weight: Feels heavenly compared to my diaper bag.
Windows XP: Beats Vista an ol’ day. (If you want me to convert to Mac feel free to send me an iBook for review…)
Bluetooth/wireless: I look so cool typing away while noshing at Blue Lemon Bistro (see photo below).
Didn’t love
Key symbol color: Don’t get me wrong, the red keys are fabulous, but the dark gray used for the key symbols is fine in daylight but makes it really hard to see in darker settings (like Twittering while watching Celebrity Apprentice at night; see video).
Silk sleeve: Yes, it’s silk, but it is also a bit too large for the notebook. It needs to have a more snug fit and some way to secure it closed.
Envious people: Everyone wanted a piece of my Vivi and it made me rather uncomfortable.
Suboptimal handbag: I’m still on the lookout for the perfect handbag to complement the notebook. It may cost me a couple hundred dollars to find one.
Okay, couldn’t come up with number five, and as you can see numbers three and four were a stretch anyway!
Using the aforementioned Flip Mino I put together a video documenting life with my HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition. I have used it more than the few minutes you glimpse in the video and I’m sure it would’ve been three times as long if this review had been scheduled post BlogHer ‘09. But you’ll enjoy catching almost the entire family involved with Vivi, including my husband. (Should I be worried?)
And the picture below? My daughter, who asks me almost daily if she can use my Vivienne Tam. Her expression, which you might recognize from the video, shows exactly how I feel when I’m typing away in such chic and sophisticated style…even in my pj’s. The runway-meets-everyday HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition is the perfect Mother’s Day gift!
You all know I love paper. So, isn’t it fitting that I review yet another paper product? Today’s review-bridal shower invites. I received 4 samples from www.papeteriestore.com. I am in the midst of hosting a few showers and I have felt the pressure to send really great invites. The brides-to-be is one animal to impress, but, then you’ve got the other 35 (that is right..one big shower to host) guests to show them it’ll be a classy affair. Invites are the first impression-so you gotta get it right.
The papeteriestore.com is a one stop shop to get unique designed invites and the printing done. (If only they could address and mail out to all the guests as well…) Their bridal shower invites have a wide collection of designs that are classy and regal. The scroll pattern, the garland and the chandelier are my personal favorite looks. The text is small, depending on your audience the font size may be too small for some of your older guests to read. The paper quality is very nice. Linen cardstock is always a good paper to print on because it exudes elegance. There is also a double layer with a smooth colored cardstock that compliments the font color. This double layer helps the text pop even more and creates a very polished look to the invites.
The only real hang up with these invites is you may upstage the wedding invites! These bridal shower invites are so classy that they seriously may steal away from the invites to the wedding. If you are looking for an invite with some class I recommend you check out their collection.-Amber
I don’t own many dresses. I have a hard time finding ones that cover what I want covered and yet are still chic and stylish (and fun and flirty and sexy…). A good dress is often hard to find, and one that costs under $100 even harder. Thank heavens two women had the same dress-finding problem or we might never have the fabulous fashion- and figure-friendly dresses from Shabby Apple!
After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it. They visited trade shows, marketplaces and designer studios only to discover the problem was not that department stores weren’t buying the right dresses, but that designers weren’t designing them.
Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to compromise anything else. A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything…no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!).
Sometimes the site simply says it best! But even that “about us” doesn’t do Shabby Apple justice. The collection features dress for every occasion, from Easter brunch to Saturday-night soiree, and for every body. “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful in a dress, but not all of us look like runway models. [Hear, hear!] Shabby Apple celebrates the short legs, curvy hips, straight waists and flat chests in all of us.” They even have an online fit guide to help you find the styles that “emphasize your assets.”
I received the Daisy dress, which can be found under Flirty. (Sounds like my kind of dress!) This crisp, white, hail-the-sunshine eyelet dress has one of my favorite features of all time: puff sleeves. And for my shorter torso the dress’ empire waist and A-line skirt is perfect! As pleasant a surprise as the puff sleeves is its length—it actually hits my knees! (What I lose in torso I make up for in inseam…) The Daisy is fully lined so no impromptu—and embarrassing—bra sightings, plus its rayon/cotton blend fabric means it travels well. The yellow grosgrain ribbon isn’t attached so you can change up the dress simply by changing the ribbon! Traveling well is a really, really good thing since I have yet to wear this dress outside our home so I’ll be making up for lost time by packing it for our cruise in September. (It’s almost May and we’re still experiencing 30-degree weather at night and the rare 60-degree day. Are you kidding me?)
Others can vouch for Shabby Apple’s drool-worthy design. I know for a fact Daria is all over the Lois Lane and envisions herself wearing it at the BlogHer conference in July. I’m debating whether to don A Sunday Afternoon or Tender is the Night. Perhaps I should get both just to be safe!
In true Shabby Apple style you can’t forget the accessories, the little fashionista or the mama-to-be. Along with the delectable dresses you’ll find scrumptious jewelry, handbags and shoes for you, the sweetest dresses for little girls and belly-flattering maternity dresses. Shabby Apple leaves nothing to chance, especially style!—Emily
* Promotion!Shabby Apple is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off their purchase! Simply enter code SABoutique when checking out. Offer expires May 28th, 2009. (Think of it as a Mother’s Day present to yourself—you totally deserve it!)
I like cards. I should like cards because one of my businesses is creating greeting cards! I am naturally attracted to paper and cards. I can’t get enough! I have a trained eye on paper greetings. I notice all the details and I do mean EVERY detail. The colors, the spine of the card, the graphics, the greeting, the packaging, etc…it gets exhausting just looking b/c it quickly turns into a serious review.
So, this particular review is close to my heart, because I seriously heart cards!
I love seeing new clever things that I think I wish I woulda…
I wish I woulda done a series of shouts outs like cardsharks did. They are a simple to the point cards that have punchy colors and fun designs. Cute to send and decorative enough to keep and display in a frame. I especially love the LOVE card and think that could be adorable for a valentines display or a sweet sentiment to give to anyone who makes your heart happy.
The alphabet series is another one of those ideas that I think…ohhh I wish i woulda…
Hanging these cards in a nursery or a playroom is an inexpensive way to decorate the walls and a great way to add a theme to the room. The alphabet cards collection includes all the letters of the alphabet, so if you decide you don’t want to use it for art in a room…send the letter A to your aunt annie or use t for a thank you card. So many uses for these cards and it’s always great to have cute cards on hand. With Mother’s Day just around the corner you may want to stock up and get some cool cards that can be sent or kept.-Amber
*** Giveaway Cardsharks is giving away a collection of cards to one lucky Daily Dish reader. Please visit cardsharks website and leave a comment here telling us your favorite card series; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline:May 4, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
It’s one thing to find an all-natural product line that nourishes and heals the skin; it’s another to find one that also nourishes the soul. Basa Body does both and the story behind the company is worth telling in their own words:
It began with a trip to Kenya where we connected with wonderful, intelligent women working hard to feed their families. We met with the women of Mombasa and visited the first small-scale coconut oil plant called Coast Coconut Farms where they produced pure organic coconut oil by hand. Determined to find a way to assist them in selling their oil and to help them grow their business, we came home and through the help of many good people, created Basa Body (named after the women of Mombasa). It is our hope that by sharing this natural healing lotion with their inspiring story, we can help lift these women of Africa out of poverty and help them become self-reliant.
Inspiring, isn’t it? Kind of makes you want to buy a truckload of Basa Body lotion!
Basa Body’s products are infused with organic virgin coconut oil, which nourishes, hydrates and rejuvenates the skin. The company works hard to keep their coconut body products 100% natural with no artificial ingredients, which means their great for sensitive skin. The line consists of lotion, a body stick and soaps, all made from 100% natural coconut oil and the finest natural ingredients. Basa Body products actually help the skin heal.
I received their Basa “Kiss Me” gift pack (see photo), which included the Basa Body Coconut Oil lotion, Basa Body Stick push tube, Mint Chocolate Truffle Soap and Cherry Chocolate Truffle Soap. The first thing I wanted to do when I opened the box was take a huge bite from the mint chocolate soap—it smelled that good! Plus it came in a cute candy-like paper wrapper, so can you blame me? I tested every product except the cherry chocolate soap (not a cherry fan) and the Basa Body Stick was by far my favorite. Though the soap smelled super fantastic and moisturized as I washed, once I rinsed my skin felt really grippy (i.e. squeaky clean), which is probably a good thing but I didn’t love it. And the lotion went on nicely and absorbed quickly…I only wish it smelled more like coconut!
But the stick was awesome! For an oil-based stick, it absorbed really quickly and moisturized so well! I put it in my daughter’s upper arms where she suffers from dry skin and it immediately remedied the problem. Her arms (and my hands) stayed moisturized for hours! You can actually use it to treat skin irritated by eczema or psoriasis. Plus the natural antibiotic, anti-fungal properties of the coconut oil make it great for diaper rash. They say once you try it you’ll be hooked (right, Jyl?) and I am! And get this, the Basa Body Stick has been referred to by customers as the “Love Stick” because it’s a “wonderful, natural and safe personal lubricant. Try it and say goodbye to K-Y.” I’m sold!
Basa Body products nourish the body, while the company’s story and mission nourishes the soul. By the way, Basa not only purchases all their coconut oil from Coast Coconut Farms but also donates 10% of their profits to projects in Kenya to fight poverty. How can you not love Basa Body?
Mother’s Day is around the corner. Give a gift that gives back by purchasing Basa Body’s “Kiss Me” gift pack. At less than $30 it’s the least you can do!—Emily
* Promotion!Basa Body is offering a special discount and giveaway! Use the promo code “momitforward” when ordering for 10% off your purchase and an automatic entry to win a $250 Disney gift card!
When it comes to choosing your handbag for a shopping trip with your girlfriends or a night out on the town you often find yourself thinking eeny, meeny, miny, moe, which purse is the way to go? But once you’ve found eenamaria you won’t find yourself thinking that any longer!
eenamaria (aka “the urban nomad”) “walks faster because she knows where she’s going. impatient and enterprising, she’s the one you envy as she glides past you on her motorcycle in gridlocked traffic. she lives by different rules, rules that set her free.” I’m not sure if this eenamaria is a real person, but I so want to be her. Since I can’t actually be eenamria I will make do by channeling her sexy, secure, free-style spirit through one of her fabulous handbags.
Chelsea Boi, eenamaria’s current collection, can best be described with two words: eye candy. The vibrant colors, sleek styles and simple designs convey a fun chic-meets-street feel. The I Mean Bizness and Workin Weekend Baby totes are used and loved by moms for fashionably carrying all of their their children’s needs and even for use as a diaper bag.
I received the All Night Clubber (the handbag, not the party boy) in gray. Bigger than a clutch but not so big it takes over your lap, the All Night Clubber is perfect when you need to grab and go. It has room for a wallet, cell phone, compact, lip glosses in every shade and car keys with some room to spare. Though I love the yummy cherry red color, I chose gray so it could easily go with any outfit. Plus I already have a red handbag and I like variety! Something else I learned about eenamaria? She pays attention to detail.The silver hardware is solid and solid and the bag is made really well.
Most of us have a collection of your typical, nondescript handbags and totes, which means more often than not we’re not living a sexy, secure, free-style life. Let eenamaria change things up a bit. Just before your next girls’ night out you may find yourself thinking eeny, meeny, miny, moe, sexy is the way to go!
*** Giveawayeenamaria is giving away a Murse or Purse handbag from the Chelsea Boi collection (pictured at left)! Please visit eenamaria’s collection on eBags and leave a comment telling us your favorite eenamaria bag; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 30, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Congratulations to Crystal B., the winner of the eenamaria 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!
It’s a thrill for me to present two interviews that we did at the last Quilt Market in Houston. First up is amazing pattern designer Chelsea Anderson of Pink Fig Patterns, and second is fabric & pattern designer Lila Tueller of Lila Tueller Designs.
Enjoy our video interviews featuring the vast talent of these two amazing ladies, as they mention some of their hot items for Spring 09. If you are attending Quilt Market in Pittsburgh next month, be sure to pop by and tell them you saw their interviews on Boutique Cafe!
To be honest I wouldn’t know if it’s actually better than Prozac since I’ve never taken the stuff. Apparently I should be on it or something similar since Utah is the nation’s top offender when it comes to prescription medication abuse…but I digress as I usually do. My point is, if you’re an overworked, overstressed, over-housewifed, under- appreciated or occasionally disenchanted woman (or all of the above) then you’ll totally get—and love—the Anne Taintor humor. And yes, this laughter is better than any medicine!
Anne Taintor “is the Original Vintage Humor Company”—and I believe it! The products feature a collage with a Taintorette (based on old black-and-white vintage photos of women) and a smart and sassy (and sometimes naught) phrase. I received one of their eco-friendly shopper bags (not yet on the site) and a note set. The shopper’s tagline? “The secret ingredient was resentment.” The punchline on the note set? “Stop me before I volunteer again.” Now THAT one is one of my favorites—and I’m sure you’re smiling by now too!
The Anne Taintor product line includes everything from compact cases, luggage tags and pill boxes to notepads, sticky notes and file folders like the one I have on my desk: “The day was in dire need of a Ctrl+Alt+Delete.” If you want to laugh for ten minutes straight, pick up an Anne Taintor catalog. I kid you not, I read that thing like it was a Far Side book! And every time I laughed out loud I’d have to tell my husband the latest Taintorette who had me doubled over. (I think he tuned me out after the fifth TV interruption but I kept on reading!)
One of my favorite features on the Anne Taintor site is “Find Your Favorite Taintorette.” It’s an easy way to see which products are available in your favorite laugh-out-loud sayings. Pretty much every Taintorette has a special place in my heart (I swear I could be BFFs with most of them) but here are my top five:
“I believe we have an opportunity to make some extremely poor choices”
“Together, we will own your grandparents”
“If by ‘happy’ you mean trapped with no means of escape…? Then yes, I’m happy”
“Male refrigerator blindness claims another victim”
“Damn straight I keep score”
And those are only five out of about 100 different Taintorettes! What a really love about Anne Taintor is the universal humor. I’m sure you can relate to at least a dozen Taintorettes and know sisters, moms and girlfriends that can relate to another dozen or so. With so many products from which to choose, you have a gift perfect for every woman on your list! Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and nothing says motherhood like a “Remember sweetheart… Mommy loves you, but she doesn’t have to like you” magnet!—Emily
Before all you non-golfers out there see the headline and pass up this review because you don’t golf-STOP! This attire is not just for those that swing the irons.
Shi-golf is INSPIRED by golf to create a preppy apparel for all, but, the quality and classy threads can be worn on or off the greens.
Urban leisure at its best really. The sweaters are soft and form perfectly to your body. Sometimes with sweaters they are too bulky with wide lines, but, this collection has shapely cuts that have a great fit. They aren’t snug, yet, they shape you. Perhaps it is the tailored lines and amazing fabric that make the sweaters fit so well.
I like the vest sweater the best. It goes perfectly with t-shirts or button down shirts. The color is a beautiful muted color that can go with just about anything. It is a bit longer which makes it nice for comfort and style. It is nice knowing I won’t have to pull down my shirt to cover that 1 inch gap I always seem to have between shirt and pants. It gives me great comfort knowing I won’t have to tug it down all day. This vest sweater is great for casual or dress up—depending on what you wear underneath the vest.
The other sweater I tried was the 3/4 sleeve length black and white sweater with white piping down the side. This sweater can take you into all seasons with its basic black & white color and comfortable fabric. The dropped scoop neckline and 3/4 sleeve make it a very universal sweater. You can wear it alone during the warmer months, and then when the colder months hit just layer it up!
Both sweaters were easy to wash and kept their tailored lines wash after wash. Sometimes things stretch and don’t fit quite the same after you wash it, but, not here. Looks like the sweater was tailored just for my body. I was curious about the fit on someone else, so I had my sister try it on and though our bodies are different-it looked great on her too…looked like she had her own tailored made sweater as well. You too can have your own tailored fit sweater, just go to Shi-golf.com.
Now I think I’ll be taking up golf seriously, because now I look the part…and isn’t looking great on the greens half the fun?!-Amber
For the past week I have been one of the competitors on Season 1 of MomDot’s “America’s Next Top Blogger.” Leave it to Trisha over at MomDot to come up with an online (virtual) reality show! I must admit, I am not a reality show junkie like some. I’ve enjoyed a few seasons of The Apprentice, caught a few American Idol tryouts (and maybe one finale) and watched a handful of America’s Next Top Model while getting in my treadmill workout. But I’ve always wanted to give reality a try (my life is far from reality—LOL) and so I threw my hat in the ring!
How does this all tie in to Boutique Cafe? Well, it only ties in loosely but it is entertaining and will give you a small glimpse into my offline life. In a recent veto competition the challenge was to video ourselves putting on the following list of items and have the fastest time doing so:
6 shirts
6 pairs of socks
1 pair of shoes/heels
1 skirt
2 jackets/coats
At least 3 accessories (hat, scarf, gloves, etc)
The Boutique Cafe shout-out happens at the very end of my donning those six shirts—my blinged-out Boutique Cafe black tee is the very last, and I totally planned it that way of course! I only did one trial run—after two run-throughs I had worked up enough sweat for another shower! Madison was my videographer, George and Livi were wardrobe and Robert Schneider (“Boom Boom” from Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine) provided the fun background music. (I think my husband had more fun watching me take off the clothing though he did crack a smile watching me put everything on while my two youngest offered their “help” and ran around me in circles!
Here’s my video, and though I didn’t win (just couldn’t beat that Dore—she had me by about 20 seconds) I had a really great time!
To watch all five videos (the winning one is Dore, fourth one down), click here. Nothing like watching five women getting dressed from start to finish! Since this challenge I’ve won one Head of Household (HOH) challenge and a veto challenge. Three more bloggers are up for elimination and one is safe (Tara and Gena, you so owe me!)
We have a break from all the “fun” this weekend but the competition will resume on Monday. It should get pretty interesting as the final few battle it out. You might want to follow along at MomDot. No, you can’t phone in your votes but you can click! (And yes, alliances are being made…and I’m sure a few will be broken!)—Emily
Up for auction, from designer ritchie*rags a totally unique pair of decoupage cherry jeans!
This auction is for one pair of reconstructed jeans in size 6 months to girls size 10. Jeans may be full length, cropped or as a denim mini skirt. If you need to inquire about a different size, please email.
Each pair is completely unique and original. These are such a hit for an all american celebration…or anytime!
By now you may have already seen the fabulous Waste-Free Lunch Kit from Kids Konserve. I’ve seen it reviewed on a handful of my favorite sites and yet I can’t get enough of this lunch kit that helps kids “choose to reuse!” And with Earth Day less than a week away, I felt this was a timely review for our Daily Dish readers.
Did you know:
The average child generates 67 pounds of lunchtime trash per year?
38 billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills each year and take 700 years before they start to decompose?
Trash is often mistaken for food and eaten by ocean life?
1.5 million barrels of oil are used in making plastic baggies and plastic bottles each year?
Those are some pretty sobering statistics, but one company is doing something about it—and helping kids do their part to reduce, reuse and recycle.
I received the Kids Konserve Waste-Free Lunch Kit in the super cute butterfly print. Before my girls even knew what it was they were fighting over who would use it first. I have never seen them so excited to take their lunch to school—heck, they were taking it even when it was chicken drummies on the hot-lunch menu! The kit includes a food cozy (a sort of thin, foldable plastic sandwich holder), two stainless steel round food containers, a stainless steel water bottle and cloth napkin inside a recycled cotton sack. The combination of the stainless steel and fun green and white print make for a pretty darn stylish lunch kit and a much preferable option to the old Barbie standby!
Kids Konserve uses food-grade stainless steel, the cleanest non-leaching and safest material in which you can place your food. And the reusable containers mean you’ll cut back on the use of plastic baggies, plastic water bottles, paper napkins, juice boxes…I could go on and on. That also means cutting back on the $$$ associated with all that uncool, landfill-filling stuff. I found my girls actually packed themselves healthier lunches when using the Waste-Free Lunch Kit. Go figure! And feel free to use the lunch kit items together or separetely. Those round containers are the perfect size for on-the-go snacks for little ones.
You have to check out Kids Konserve’s new Party Pak. This awesome waste-free kit is great for classrooms, picnics and birthday parties and includes (25 each): plates, tumblers, forks, knives and spoons in three cotton drawstring bags. I love the idea of not buying Costco-size packages of paper plates and plastic silverware!
Help your kids (and you) “choose to reuse” by incorporating the Waste-Free Lunch Kit from Kids Konserve into your daily school or daycare lunch routine. See? It’s not that hard to make a difference!—Emily
** Giveaway Kids Konserve is giving away one Kids Konserve lunch kit! To enter please read the story about Rose and the “Garbage Patch” and share your voice for change. All comments will be entered to win. The drawing will take place on Earth Day, April 22, 2009.
* Promotion!Kids Konserve is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their purchase! Simply enter the code “boutique” when checking out from KidsKonserve.com. Offer expires May 31, 2009.
Spring is here, but, somedays it still feels like winter. The sun is out but chilly air still lingers. So, what does an impatient girl do that already has busted out all her spring digs do? Add a jersey scarf from ash & dans!
Traveling from cold West weather to Caribbean sunshine- wearing one outfit on a plane…what does one wear? The ash and dans wrap scarf. This comfy scarf will double as a blanket on the plane. From 20 degrees to 90 degrees, the scarf will work in both climates.
Gotta night out in your adorable little cocktail dress but can’t find the dressy, yet not too dressy wrap? Try ash and dan’s lace trimmed scarf. The lace detail adds a little class to the wrap.
Wanna look like an A-lister? Why not buy one item that can be worn with everything and is worn by the stars. The jersey ash & dans wrap scarf.
I gotta say i am lovin’ this scarf. I got the grey frannie style and it goes with everything…so it is constantly being worn. I love the dark charcoal color detailed with gorgeous ivory lace trim on the bottom. The material is this amazing jersey that feels like the silky jersey sheets made for sleep time. The wrap scarf is the exclamation point for every wardrobe it accessorizes. That’s a wrap for this review. I have nothing but praise for this wrap scarf. -Amber
Don’t you hate when you go to burp the babe and the little one burps all over the back of your dry-clean only blouse? Or what about making a quick switch to the other side to give your patted-out hand a rest and bluh, the baby burps without any burp cloth protecting you from all that spit up? Well, one mom got so tired of these things that she actually did something about it. She designed her own burp cloths and now is selling them to the rest of us.
Skyoozmee was created for making feeding time a little bit easier and a whole lot cleaner. This unique design covers your chest, back and both your shoulders. The burp cloth will stay in place because it has a fastened velcro in the back to keep it in place. So, besides looking like you are wearing an adult bib, this burp cloth is the answer to keeping YOU clean.
The cloths are made of 2 layers of flannel material. This double layer is nice because nothing can seep through and you don’t get wet. Skyoozmee burp cloths come in 5 different designs including a masculine style, so you can have Dad looking good using his very own bib-like burp cloth.-Amber
** Giveaway! Skyoozmee is giving away a burp cloth to a lucky Daily Dish reader. Please visit the skyoozmee website and leave a comment telling us what charities they help. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 20, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
I think we’ve only done one other eco-friendly shoe review on the Daily Dish, and that was TOMS back in June of ‘07. It’s about freakin’ time we had another one, especially with how stylish eco-friendly apparel and accessories are these days.
Take today’s review on Simple Shoes. There isn’t one shoe in this line I don’t love. (Okay, maybe the Teetoe isn’t my favorite but I’m having a hard time getting into the whole gladiator look anyway.) With styles for men, women and children, this line of sustainable shoes is fashion friendly, wardrobe friendly and definitely environmentally friendly.
company uses a variety of materials in their shoes, from bamboo to hemp to wool. It’s amazing how chic their styles are considering they also use recycled carpet padding, plastics and recycled inner tubes! Just look at the Entire, which I received in the yummy chocolate brown. First thing I noticed? They are super cute. The second thing? They are super comfy. Though I only wore them around my home (keep in mind it was still snowing as of last week!), I could tell they’d be my go-to shoes this summer.
These little peep-toe sandals are from Simple Shoes’ ecoSNEAKS line and boast a silk upper with certified organic cotton knit linings. Now that’s the sort of normal stuff. What’s not so normal and rather cool is what else makes up this shoe: an outsole that used to be a car tire, a vulcanized rubber sidewall and heelcap and 100% post consumer paper pulp foot form. Wow! All that in super sweet peep-toe!
And not forgetting sustainable when it comes to the packaging, Simple Shoes are shipped in a “totally state-of-the-art/back-to-the-future post-consumer recycled box.” Some other nifty things about Simple Shoes:
Glue-free assembly: By using sewing machines instead of extra glue to assemble the shoe components, their new Glue-Free Assembly reduces the amount of glue used to less than 5mL (think about the size of a thimble compared to the two shot glasses of glue that are usually required).
Silk: It keeps your feet cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. Silk is featured on styles ranging from slides to sporty sneakers.
Kids: They have great prints for infants and kids this spring but they company is even more excited about the new toddler collection being introduced in Fall 09. (I am really excited to since we’ll be reviewing a pair from the new collection this August!)
Eco-friendly and sustainable can be very fashionable words, especially when applied to footwear from Simple Shoes. Pick up a pair or two and do something good for your closet and the environment!—Emily
So it’s not typical that you walk into a kitchen and make comments about how cute (that’s right cute) someone’s knives are, but, it actually has become a typical statement at my house.
I recently received this unique line of kitchen knives and butcher block that is so stylish that the knives are being called cute! I don’t know if it is the simplicity of the wood block or the rubber red grips on the knives that are stealing the attention away from my colorful Kitchenaid, but, these knives are definitely making the cut when it comes to style.
The 4 slot storage block comes with the essential knives: 3 1/4 paring knife, 5 1/2 boning knife, 7’ utility knive, and the 8 1/2 chef’s knife. So, the cute red grip is actually my favorite thing about each knife. It has a new design unlike any other handle that provides superior comfort and control. The grip doesn’t hurt after cutting through tough meat or an awkward sized melon. The grip makes cutting things so much easier. The handle design actually acts like a shock absorber so it helps reduce any potential wrist or hand stress when cutting.
The blades make the cut too…literally. They are 440-A stainless steel and in knife terminology that means it is very durable and can cut through things with ease.
These knives are the first of their kind to transform the structure and design of the knife. Truly cutting edge.-Amber
** Giveaway!Dave Cook Kitchen Tools is giving away a paring knife/cheese board gift set to a lucky daily dish reader. Please visit Dave Cook Kitchen Tools website and leave a comment here telling us a knife know how tip. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 14, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
In May of 2007 I reviewed the Baby Traveller Deluxe by gr8x, a diaper bag you definitely can’t judge by its cover. I was so impressed with this machine-washable (yes, machine-washable!) all-in-one diaper bag I was really excited to see their new messenger style diaper bags and super soft swaddling blankets. I was not disappointed!
I received gr8x’s Messenger Diaper Bag in the camo print. The messenger is one of six styles of diaper bags (not including the Baby Traveller Deluxe) from the new line , which includes a hobo slouch, holdall, backpack duo, bucket tote and satchel. The messenger style is by far my favorite and the camo print makes me smile. Why? I’m not so sure except I feel super cool when toting it around! But cool will only get you so far. It’s what’s inside (and outside if you’re talking pockets) that really matters. So what’s inside?
This diaper bag boasts numerous zipped and mesh pockets (in super fun contrasting orange), an insulated pocket for bottles (a must-have in my book), change mat, wipes pocket you can access externally (so cool!), front section for mom’s things, nylon lining (i.e. easy to clean), adjustable shoulder strap, detachable stroller attachments and even a detachable pacifier case. Most of the designs also have rubber feet to protect the bottom (another must-have). What’s great about the camo print is that it’s great for Mom or Dad—if Dad is ever out and about with the kids long enough to warrant a diaper bag. (My husband tries to avoid those types of outings at all cost.) I really couldn’t find anything not to like about this bag, though I did wish it had a padded shoulder strap, but at least the strap they have is softer than most straight-edged vinyl or leather straps.
And now for gr8x’s new Baby Stretch Swaddling Wraps. What makes these swaddling blankets so cool is the word “stretch.” The stretch in these soft cotton blankets comes from the elastane in the fabric. This small amount of elastane allows baby some movement, which means it’s more comfortable for your little one. Your baby will be cozy and warm while not feeling restricted. Plus the elastene also helps soften the fabric when washed, so the more you swaddle, the softer it gets. Just make sure you follow the washing instructions. I threw my blanket in the dryer when the directions specifically said to air dry, and it shrunk a bit in size. To be honest, I read the directions but I rarely hang-dry anything except my sports bras, and even those I’ve dried once in a while! I kind of wanted to see what would happen if it were dried, and as soon as the buzzer sounded, I found out by pulling out a blanket about 1/4th smaller than it was when it went in.
Even after I had made it less than its former self it still was a great size for swaddling and it maintained its stretchiness, which I checked by pulling it this way and that. And yes, the Baby Stretch Swaddling Wraps are pretty dang soft! I can’t think of any other swaddling blankets that have had quite this much stretch and been quite this soft. Way to go, gr8x!
Patty Young has done it again! Not only does this talented designer have a popular line of fabrics out with Michael Miller called Andalucia (and Mezzanine on the way). Patty also has a line of children’s patterns that are now available through various retailers online…and they are fabulous!
Check out Patty’s newly updated website Mod Kid Boutique for details on her patterns, prep for Spring Market and more.
If you are a retailer who carries Patty Young’s fabric and patterns please leave a link to your store below in our comments. Thank you for supporting our dear friend!
**Fabric Hound currently has Patty’s patterns in stock fabrichound.com
Like my kids need any more spring in their step—they’re already bouncing off the walls, down the hallway and on the furniture. Fortunately by “spring” I mean Eleven Collection’s latest spring styles. How fitting that today’s review follows right on the heels (again, pun totally intended) of my See Kai Run review from Tuesday. Eleven Collection and See Kai Run are sister companies; fortunately these sisters have the same stylish taste in children’s shoes!
My first review of Eleven Collection was in November when George received his Luc boots. Those sleek black boots have officially made him the coolest kid at church, and I’m not just saying that because I’m his mom and think all my kids are super cool. Those boots are stylin’, sturdy, comfy and easy to get on and off. Plus their unisex style means our little Livi will get to follow in George’s footsteps in about two years. With Eleven Collection shoes you can bet your 529 plan they’ll last through two if not three kids and still look great. Here are the basics behind Eleven (from my previous post):
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.
(And yes, I still wish my kids were low maintenance!)
George received the Joaquin from Eleven’s new spring line. The Joaquin is a simple yet classy brown leather sandal with a solid Velcro closure that’s sure to keep his feet in his shoes even when running at breakneck speed down a grassy hill. Plus the style is perfect for church, so he’ll still be the coolest three year old in his class. That’s all that really matters, right? He’s anxious to wear them but I have a feeling he won’t enjoy the feeling of snow between his toes. I’m thinking it should be at least 60 degrees outside before slipping on the Joaquins.
My other favorites from Eleven Collection’s latest styles are the Caper, Kasota and Laura—that pink and red Mary Jane is to die for! Similar to See Kai Run, the price tag on these shoes is a bit higher than what you might pay at a big box retailer but they will last a lot longer (multiple children for sure) and are a lot healthier for your little one’s feet. Check out their sale page where you can pick up a pair of Elevens for as little as $20. That kind of price puts a little spring in my step!—Emily
** Giveaway! Eleven Collection is giving away one pair of their super sweet shoes, winner’s choice! Please visit Eleven Collection’s website and leave a comment here telling us your favorite style. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 9, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Today I received the following email with included press release and just had to share—it’s SO exciting! I’ll be ordering my LeapFrog Dream & Learn Smart Orb today
“Since you’re a dedicated, informed LeapMom, we want you to be the first to know about a product that has been kept under tight wraps here at LeapFrog HQ. Until today. Take a look at the Dream & Learn Smart Orb, which will make your child a genius overnight. Guaranteed. Phone lines are already open, so don’t miss this amazing offer, as supplies are limited.”
LEAPFROG® DREAM & LEARN™ SMART ORB MAKES KIDS SLEEP SMARTER AND WAKE UP BRIGHTER
“Study While You Slumber” Product Will Make Every Kid Valedictorian
EMERYVILLE, CA—April 1, 2009—Today LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: LF) proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that learning can happen anytime, anyplace—with satisfaction guaranteed. After a decade of top-secret, government-funded testing at underground research facilities in several undisclosed locations, LeapFrog has released the revolutionary Dream & Learn Smart Orb. Dream & Learn is the first product to harness the unique ability of children’s brains to absorb raw intelligence delivered via high frequency sound waves. Now all kids (and the occasional cocker spaniel) can instantly comprehend difficult-to-learn concepts—while they sleep!
“Every child sleeps an average of nine hours a night, so why not turn this normally wasted time into a painless study session—and ace that chemistry final?” said Nancy MacIntyre, executive vice president, product, innovation and marketing. “Parents who despair that their child will ever grasp the quadratic formula, Zeno’s Paradox or the answer to ‘how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?’ will now rest easy. We’re happy to say that, thanks to our space-age engineering, having the brightest kid on the block is no longer just a dream.”
Turning centuries of educational theory on their head, the patented smartification technology embedded within Dream & Learn—Subjective Neurological Osmosis Retention & Entertainment (S.N.O.R.E.)—allows children to go to sleep as usual and simply wake up noticeably smarter (albeit, in approximately 10 per cent of test cases, somewhat groggy). The Dream & Learn’s (http://www.leapfrog.com/en/shop/dreamandlearn.html) compact size, sleek spherical shape and hermetically sealed shell allow it to be nestled safely and unobtrusively next to any standard-sized pillow. And the ”infinity dial” of subjects lets parents choose exactly which Amazing Knowledge Archive (how to calculate a molar solution; baking a perfect pie crust—every time!; exactly who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?) will grow their little one’s brain each night.
Fighting Over Homework—Never Again!
Dream & Learn eliminates the need for any parent ever again to nag their child to finish homework. Parents simply set the Dream & Learn dial to the topic of their choice, place the device near their child’s pillow and off the little one goes into productive slumber. The S.N.O.R.E.’s proprietary sonic algorithms infiltrate and effectively “hijack” the child’s unconscious and download the selected information directly to the appropriate lobes of the brain. A satisfied parent said, “My son used to fail every math quiz he took. But now, at only eight years old, he is heading to Antarctica to do stuff my wife and I can’t even pronounce, let alone understand. Thanks, LeapFrog!”
Already in development are next-gen products that will actually allow a child to sleep around the clock—and get smarter, faster, than possible while awake. And depending on their particular parenting philosophies, moms and dads can even choose not to tell their child he or she is “Dream & Learn”-ing, placing the orb after bedtime and removing it in the wee hours of the morning. The child will awaken smarter—but none the wiser.
Availability and Money-back Guarantee
Dream & Learn Smart Pod is now available from LeapFrog’s web site. If within ten days your child is not a seven-language-speaking viola virtuoso leading NASA’s mission to DNA profile the rings of Saturn, you are guaranteed a full refund of the purchase price plus applicable shipping and handling charges.
Hi! I'm Daria, Owner Host and Producer for Boutique Cafe! I am passionate about helping mompreneurs succeed in following their dreams. I love to connect people, create, and network. I'm a social media addict and love anything fashionable, girly, DIY, vintage, handmade and fabulous. If you're a mompreneur and are looking for a cheerleader, you've come to the right place! I am one of several sweet contributors on Boutique Cafe - Meet Emily, Katie and the whole team here.
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Okay, I am about 99% sure this will be the coolest review of 2009. (Hey, I can’t see past July on the schedule so you never know!) I am 110% sure it’s the coolest review so far! And I used one of my Flip Mino—one of my most favorite reviews—to help vlog about how cool the HP Vivienne Tam Edition makes me look amazing the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition is and how much I love it…and my daughter loves it, and my husband loves it, and my babysitter loves it and all my Twitter girlfriends love it… It is THE must-have gift for Mother’s Day!
This mini-me version of a laptop (aka “digital clutch”) is only 10 inches long by 6.5 inches deep by less than 1 inch high and less than 2.5 pounds. The Vivi features a 10.1-inch diagonal HP Brightview Infinity widescreen display, HP Mini webcam, integrated mic, stereo speakers and a 92% full-size keyboard. But would I find substance when I looked beyond its chic and sexy exterior? Do runways have models?
Inside the Vivi you’ll find Microsoft Windows XP, an Intel Atom processor, 60GB of hard drive space, WiFi and Bluetooth. (Yes, I sound like I know what I’m talking about but it’s more my husband telling me all this stuff is super nifty.) There are a slew of other impressive features but I’m all girl and get distracted by pretty things. You’re lucky I looked further than the peonies!
Using the aforementioned Flip Mino I put together a video documenting life with my HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition. I have used it more than the few minutes you glimpse in the video and I’m sure it would’ve been three times as long if this review had been scheduled post BlogHer ‘09. But you’ll enjoy catching almost the entire family involved with Vivi, including my husband. (Should I be worried?
Add yourself to my connections.
