“Red Lips. Green Conscience.” This is the mantra of PlantLove, the new cosmetics line from CARGO. More impressive than the tagline is PlantLove’s commitment to the environment:

[PlantLove is] the only prestige color brand to carry the globally recognized ECOCERT™ natural designation for its comprehensive environmental commitment … From natural and organic ingredients, to its environmentally award-winning compostable packaging, Cargo PlantLove lets us go green glamorously.

This ECOCERT designation means that all of PlantLove’s products, processes and packaging meet the strictest standards for natural, organic and environmentally friendly product. Talk about impressive! I thought mineral makeup was pretty cool since it’s all natural but PlantLove takes “all natural” to a whole new level! The line consists of foundation, blush, bronzer, lipstick, lip gloss, eyeshadow, eyeliner and luminzer.

CARGO sent me samples of PlantLove’s loose powder foundation, blush, lipstick and lip gloss. I have yet to figure out the whole loose-powder foundation thing and the color was a bit off, so I didn’t really test that product thoroughly, but I did give the blush a good run for its money and found it went on smoothly and evenly and blended nicely with my skin tone. It also wore really well and had more of a natural look than your typical store-bought blush. The lipstick was a great product too, and apparently many celebrities have designed their own colors for the line. (You can view the celebs and colors here.) Plus because the lipstick’s case is made from corn it’s compostable: “This revolutionary bio-plastic is not only made from a renewable resource, it’s also greenhouse-gas-neutral, which helps us fight global warming.”

I didn’t love the lip gloss, but I’m sort of a lip gloss junkie and prefer the less “natural” brands. PlantLove’s gloss didn’t go on as smoothly as I would’ve liked, nor did it have the coverage and staying power of my favorite glosses. Overall I am impressed that an eco-friendly, all natural, organic line of makeup has such an impressive collection of products and colors and wears as well as it does. I’m not sure I would restock my entire makeup bag with PlantLove as the prices are more along the lines of M.A.C. makeup, which is a treat for me rather than a necessity. But if you’re looking to go green when it comes to cosmetics, PlantLove is definitely worth a try! You can find PlantLove online at Sephora.com.—Emily

I don’t usually use a company’s tagline as the title of a review but this one was too intriguing not to put it front and center. Beckons is a line of organic yoga clothing that is comfortable, flattering, colorful, comfortable, eco-friendly, stylish and comfortable. Did I mention Beckons clothing is comfortable? Here are some things I loved most about the company when I read more about them:

We maintain a strong commitment to the triple bottom line, where profit is equally as important as our impact on the planet and it’s people. ... From the very beginning, Beckons has embraced the yogic philosophy of kindness to the planet. We use only organic cotton and sustainable fibers in our clothing. ... We believe the little things we do, to ensure that women feel special while wearing our clothing, differentiate our brand. For example, we discretely sew into each Beckons® garment an empowering intention tag with words such as wisdom, courage, love, grace, integrity, and strength.

I’d love for you to go through your closet right now and see if any of current clothing has an empowering intention tag—and I’m not talking about something purchased from Anthropologie. Beckons sent me the strength cami in deep purple, strength t-shirt in black and wisdom roll-up capris in charcoal so my yoga wear now includes three “empowering” items. Oh, and they’re extremely comfortable empowering items as well.

I do enjoy yoga though I don’t do it as often as I should, so the strength tee and wisdom capris have become more of a lounge wear outfit than a fitness one, and I am so okay with that. Becky, one of the owners, told me those capris would become my new favorite pants, and I am 110% serious when I tell you they have. I wear those things at least three times a week if not more. They are my go-to pair of pants when I get home from a long day of errands or if it’s one of those days where I’m not planning to go anywhere. (Yes, I do take them off long enough to wash them!) They are stretchy, soft, comfy and flattering and guess what? They’re great for yoga too. I wore them on a recent visit to Bodhi Yoga with my SassyScoops.com group; you can catch them in action in this video:
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The tee and cami are comfy too, though I have yet to see the cami in action. It’s not that it isn’t comfortable but rather I don’t fill it out as much as I’d like for it to give me the support I need. (Was that TMI? Sorry!) But the tee is going to be my go-to shirt for our long drive to California and you know those capris will be in my suitcase. I can’t imagine a week going by without my wearing them at least a half dozen times!

I also love Beckons’ Grace Hemp Skirt and Grace Hemp Dress, plus they even have a a few men’s items and some fabulous lavender eye pillows. But my Beckons Wisdom capris are what beckon me; what “beckons” you?—Emily

KSL.com

There’s nothing better than giving a shoutout, a hoot and a holler to mompreneurs who are getting noticed! Congratulations to Quinn Curtis (organizer of the recent Moms Who Make it Conference) and Cari Greer (Owner of Sole Desires) for their feature on KSL news.

This piece focuses on the specific way Cari Greer is making it in these tough economic times with her business on wheels. It also shares the focus of the Moms Who Make It Conference including such tips as:

Get out there and network.
Seek professional advice.
Don’t be afraid.

For the accompanying article Click Here >>

The following is reposted from “freshly baked.” Daria and I thought our Boutique Cafe readers would be interested in this insightful article on Twitter, which I read in a recent Time magazine.

If it weren’t for gym magazines I may never know what’s going on in the world. From the latest detox diets to Fall’s must-have accessories, the gym is a plethora of useful information. But seriously, I do get the chance to read some really interesting articles when I’m lucky enough to grab a Time or Newsweek from the stand, and today is the perfect example.

In a recent issue of Time magazine I found an article all about Twitter titled “How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live.” Now, you don’t have to extol the virtues of the latest 140-character communication craze to me—I’m already a big fan. But this article pointed out a few things I didn’t know, a few things I hadn’t thought about, and a few possibilities for the future that make you stop and think.

New to Twitter? Seasoned pro? No matter where you stand when it comes to tweets, DMs, @ replies and followers, you’ll want to read “How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live” in its entirety. It may just change the way you think. And yes, it’s a wonderful, wonderful web.

P.S. If you want to follow me on twitter you can find me here: @emihill. Tweet on!—Emily
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This weekend mommy bloggers from all over are descending on Chicago for the annual BlogHer Conference. Emily and I (Boutique Cafe) were set to attend this year with our tickets in hand, however due to several complications things didn’t go well and we ended up selling our Blogher tickets to some very stinkin’ LUCKY gals.

Now we’re both at home, watching the #BlogHer09 tweets roll by on Tweetdeck and pitying ourselves for the missing of this great event. Even though it couldn’t be helped, won’t you join in our little pity party?

I just tweeted my affirmation for today: “Even though I’m not at #BlogHer09 I’m still darn awesome!” Follow me here—>

**If you’re a blogger who is at the conference and would like to share your experience please leave a comment with your blog post address. If you’re not at BlogHer (like Emily and myself) feel free to post your woes below too, and you can link to your blog as well (you’re darn awesome too!!).

Looking out my window as I write this post I can see three Razor scooters lying on their sides, alone and forgotten, while the brightly colored orange mini kick scooter from Kickboard USA stands tall in the garage, much loved and protected from the elements. Okay, so the Razor scooters are used by my older kids while the mini scooter is solely for my three-year-old, but still…you can tell those Razors feel a bit of scooter envy when they’re near the mini.

Kickboard USA’s mini kick scooter is designed with younger children in mind, specifically ages three to five. Instead of changing direction using the handles, this scooter features a unique “lean-and-steer” design so children use their body weight to turn. When you watch a child such as my George riding on his mini scooter, the motion as they turn reminds you of skateboarding or surfing. The mini scooter also has three wheels, which I love because it’s a lot more stable than the typical scooter, and the polyurethane wheels are smooth and quiet. Yay for smooth and quiet!

Like larger scooters the mini kick scooter features a “spoon” brake on the back so at least there’s a chance they won’t pick up too much speed heading down a hill (or down a driveway). And it’s super lightweight so you can easily pick it up and carry it with one hand—something I find myself doing more than I thought. Those little legs can get pretty tired pretty quickly!

Kickboard USA sent George the mini kick scooter in orange, his most favorite color. He hopped on it the minute we pulled it out of the box and rode it back and forth on our kitchen tile.

It did take him a little while to get the hang of steering it, and I found our neighbor’s driveway a great post for practicing. But once he got the gist of it he was good to go, nearly freaking me out as he would take sidewalk corners faster than I would’ve liked! He has gotten a lot of use out of his mini kick scooter so far; it’s even preempted his LIKEaBIKE (pedal-less bike) for most walks around the block. And that mini kick scooter has held up to the challenge of keeping a very busy three-year-old rockin’ and rollin’.

The mini kick scooter from Kickboard USA is available in blue, pink and orange and is a bit pricey at $75 but it is worth it as far as scooters go. I can see it standing up to George’s abuse and then getting passed to his little sister for another couple years. And while it may be almost twice as much as your typical off-the-shelf scooter, it gets taken out at least three times as often!—Emily

Greetings Boutique Cafe Viewers! It’s been awhile since our last show, my apologies for taking a break from podcasting over the past few months due to illness in my pregnancy. Thankfully, in a moment of renewed strength today I found this video in our “Boutique Cafe Vault” from Fall Quilt Market last year. This unseen interview is with the amazing and lovely Anna Maria Horner! I truly hope you’ll enjoy it and leave comments for Anna Maria as well.

In our chat, we discuss her book “Seams to Me”, Good Folks fabric line, new patterns available, and her exciting pregnancy coinciding with a Little Folks fabric line as well. Since we taped this back in Fall last year, Anna Maria’s beautiful little son Roman indeed arrived and is beyond precious. Congratulations again Anna Maria! XO!

Now CLICK the Button to View our Interview! (you may also view our video on YouTube here)

I try to make sure my kids eat healthy snacks, at least the three out of five times I catch them snacking. The problem I have is finding healthy snacks they truly enjoy. Fortunately their fans of the Fiber One bars, which I can buy by the case at Costco, and also enjoy a good drinkable or squeezable yogurt. But after that I tend to run out of options. That’s why I was excited when Balance asked me to review their new B KIDS Bar, a “delicious and nutritious way to help feed kids’ growing brains and bodies.”

Who isn’t happy to support healthy brain development? We already have them slated to become a doctor, lawyer, dentist and auto mechanic. (Okay, so maybe that last one doesn’t require years of education but it is still very important when it comes to helping out your aging parents.) The new B KIDS Bar is available in chocolate chip and peanut butter flavors and is made with whole grain oats, wheat and rice and provides at least 8 grams of whole grains (for energy—wait, do I want my kids to have more energy?) along with iron, zinc, choline and Vitamins B1, B6 and B12. Gotta love those B vitamins for a healthy nervous system!

So the bars are packed with good-for-kids ingredients and sound appetizing but do they past my kids’ sometimes picky palettes? Um, YES. Those things were gone in about two days flat. Granted, I have four kids all on solid foods and I made sure to taste-test each flavor as well, but I can’t remember another snack disappearing as quickly from the pantry. Good thing I can find Balance’s B KIDS Bars at my local Target store because it looks like I’ll need to restock ASAP. They are a bit on the pricier side at alomst $4 a box, but if you alternate them with another healthy snack like a Fiber One bar, piece of fruit, yogurt, raisins, etc., you can add variety and nutrition to their snacking habit. Sounds like a plan to me!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Balance is giving away one box of each flavor to two Daily Dish readers! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July 30, 2009 (midnight). The winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

*** For an extra entry tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet!

• Congratulations to Gina S. and Lisa C., the winners of the B KIDS 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!

Tomorrow is an exciting one that I’d love to share with all my Boutique Cafe buddies. I’ll be going to an ultrasound in the morning, and hoping to not only see a happy healthy little bundle – but also find out if we are expecting PINK OR BLUE!!

Obviously we’re hoping for PINK since we already have four strapping boys, and I’m severely outnumbered. But we’ll be thrilled either way, a baby is just such a beautiful blessing. So everyone stay tuned, and cross your fingers that our little baby will cooperate with the ultrasound tech and show themselves. LOL!

Cheers and thanks for your support and friendship! – Daria

When it comes to toddlers and tattoos you usually think of small squares of paper adorned with cheesy characters combined with a sopping wet sponge (and rubbing alcohol two days later). You rarely think super cool tattoos because, well, those are permanent and for a much more mature age group. While you’ll find a few infant and toddler tees with the common “MOM” tattoo theme, only one company takes the colors, artistry and awe that accompanies an awesome tattoo and turns it into super cool clothing for kids.

Ruthless & Toothless (R&T for sure) has quite possibly the most unique, artistic children’s clothing I’ve ever seen. It’s the kind of tee, dress or tank that makes you stop and ask where you too can find a snapsuit like that. How did R&T come to be? Here’s the “why” behind the designs:

People just need to look at us to know we have a particular look, one we feel strongly about. But when people see our kids, it’s hard for that look to come through. We’ve searched and searched and searched, and haven’t found much for our kids that reflect and define who we are as parents. ... We’ve put in a lot of work to make R&T a true outlet of our artistic expression, and a place where we can extend our tattooed lifestyle to our children. And you can be sure of this- the designs of Ruthless & Toothless are originals. Straight from our sketch pads to your kid’s room.

R&T sent George what I call their popsicle tee (designed by Darren Brass) and Livi their koi fish dress (designed by Darren Brass & James Hamilton). I was all over that koi dress when it arrived, pulling it out for everyone to see. The first thing out of my oldest daughter’s mouth? “That is so cool! Do they have one in my size?” And the first thing out of my son’s mouth when he saw his new tee? “That’s a cool tee! Can I wear it now?”

No, he couldn’t wear it “now” because it was bedtime but you better believe he had it on the next day…and then two days after that…and then a few days after that. (Hey, we had to take a break so Mom could wash it!) His “popsicle shirt” is still his favorite tee by far—the kind of tee you have to wash immediately so he can wear it again within the next 48 hours. And while I love that tee, the fun and edgy style of the koi dress is my favorite. It is still a little big for Livi to wear so we don’t have any photos of her in it, but here’s a great one of George in his R&T tee:

Can you tell how much he loves that shirt? R&T also has some pretty cool phone and laptop covers. I’m waiting for them to come out with a theme for the Blackberry Pearl (hint, hint). You know, sometimes it’s time to spice things up a bit when it comes to your child’s wardrobe. Ruthless & Toothless lets your child live the tattooed lifestyle, if only temporarily. There’s always time (like years) to discuss more permanent options…—Emily

I first reviewed Enjoy Life Foods when they sent me their semi-sweet chocolate chips back in May of 2008. For a product that was free of the seven most common allergens, those little mini chips were surprisingly tasty. We gobbled those up in dozens of cookies and my kids had no idea those flavorful little chips were devoid of seven things: wheat, gluten, dairy, nut, egg, lactose and casein (the principal protein found in milk and other dairy products). Yes, all of Enjoy Life Foods’ products steer clear of these ingredients and are produced in a nut-free, gluten-free bakery. Pretty impressive, huh?

So when Enjoy Life Foods wanted to send me three bags of their new granola to taste test, I was totally up to the challenge. I love granola and I love Enjoy Life Foods—seemed like the perfect review! I received their Cinnamon Crunch, Cranapple Crunch and Verry Berry Crunch “new and improved” granola mixes. Why are these guys new and improved? Well, they are now crispier with smaller granola clusters so they “look and taste more like the ‘real’ thing.”

Um, I’m not sure what they tasted like before but these babies definitely taste like granola to me. Okay, so they’re not as decadent and diet-killing as my favorite, fat-packed French vanilla almond granola, but they do have more vitamins and whole grain than my current granola choice. (Enjoy Life Foods granola is vitamin fortified and includes 23 grams or more of whole grain per serving.)

I didn’t test the mixes on top of yogurt, one of my favorite ways to enjoy granola, but the Cinnamon Crunch held up well as a breakfast cereal (i.e. no soggy clusters). I’m thinking these mixes would also make a great base for a customized mix including Enjoy Life Foods’ chocolate chips and a few other fun ingredients!

*** Giveaway! Enjoy Life Foods is giving away one of their totes and coupons for three (3) free products! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July 27, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

** For an extra entry tweet about this giveaway and leave a link with the URL to your tweet in a separate comment!

• Congratulations to Lisa C., the winner of the Enjoy Life Foods 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!

...and for once I’m not talking about the kind I may end up purchasing for myself one day. (That’s one review I won’t be writing here on Boutique Cafe!) I’m actually talking about a new line of enhancers from MixMyGranola, a company whose “personalized” granola mixes I reviewed back in May and of which I am a big fan!

The company just released a new line of Enhancers as part of their custom granola mixes. These enhancers take all that yummy fruity, nutty, granola-y goodness and add a little extra boost to help keep you going throughout the day. As a mom, business owner, blogger and wife I was definitely intrigued, especially when I heard you can add caffeine powder to help with sleepiness. You can also add pomegranate to help detox; VitaCherry to give you a vitamin boost; and green tea powder to improve health and lower cholesterol. They actually have over 16 Enhancers from which to choose.

A few notes about MixMyGranola’s Enhancers. One, they don’t really add any taste to your mix but because they’re a bit on the bland side the max number of Enhancers per mix is two. This keeps your granola mix at its super tastiest best! And two, Enhancers are not for everyone; they are recommended for adults 18 and older. Also, If you are pregnant or nursing PLEASE consult your health care professionals before using any Enhancers. Hopefully you’re well aware of that disclaimer when it comes to any kind of enhancement!

MixMyGranola sent me a mix with the maca powder for my half-marathon training. It was a very small sample so I’ve actually been saving it for my 12-mile training run which is in a couple weeks. But I did take a taste test and you can’t taste the maca powder at all, which is a pretty important test for me. I don’t like anything with a funky aftertaste and there’s no aftertaste with this Enhancer. I’m about out of my last batch of customized MixMyGranola mix and will for sure be adding an Enhancer or two when I order again!—Emily

I don’t need to tell you how many brands of children’s shoes exist—the choices are endless and of course we all have our favorites. When it comes to soft-soled shoes many of us think of the typical Robeez-style bootie, but let me change your way of thinking by introducing you to ScooterBees.

ScooterBees shoes have a patent-pending design that allows the shoes to adjust to and fit the variety of widths and “chunkiness” (instep thickness) of each little foot. The company is all about the unique shape of baby and toddler feet and so the design focuses on their healthy development and protection. ScooterBees also us committed to the environment; they company uses only the highest quality, environmentally friendly materials such as recycled fibers derived from both post-industrial and post-consumer sources, including PET soda and water bottles. And all ScooterBees shoes are manufactured domestically in San Francisco, CA.

The health of your little one’s feet and the environment is all well and good but what sets ScooterBees shoes apart from the rest? Well, not only are they soft soled, durable, machine washable (gotta love machine-washable shoes!) and easy to take on and off, they are educational. Yes, I said educational. Each pair of shoes are designed with your child’s mind in mind. They have a little “story” complete with illustrations that help stimulate their imagination. The artwork is handcrafted with non-toxic paint and the shoes can be worn with different “pages” complete with colorful letters, numbers and images.

Our little Livi received the pink Growing Bird pair of ScooterBees and they are truly like no other pair of infant/toddler shoes she owns. They are super soft yet durable and I love how adjustable they are—heaven knows my kids have chunky, little feet! And being able to change around the flaps makes it so much fun! It’s like finding a little surprise every time she wears the shoes! I am a big fan of children’s products that are parent friendly, child friendly and to top it all off, environmentally friendly. It’s a hard combination to pull off but ScooterBees does it—and does it with style!—Emily

*** Giveaway! ScooterBees is giving away one pair of shoes, winner’s choice! Please visit ScooterBees.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite style of shoes; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July21, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* For an extra entry tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with the URL of your tweet!

• Congratulations to Gina S., the winner of the ScooterBees giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

As you may have already read, we’re expecting baby #5 (we have four boys, so please pray “girl” for me this last time)! While the little one is only 16 weeks along, and occupying itself by pressing on my bladder, I’m entertaining myself with an Etsy-wide search for adorable infant shoes.

There is nothing sweeter than handmade baby shoes, so tiny and nowadays they are so fashionable to boot! In my wonderful wanderings today I came across some darling designs (and designers) to share with you. Enjoy and Fuel the Obsession early with me! – Daria

Etsy Designers Featured (L to R): pedrosprout, ivoryandmoss, prairiemother, barettzz, Tosweetpeafromme, lilcubby, loopyllama, pedrosprout, lilcubby

Most of the child-size digital cameras out there are so basic they leave much to be desired, even for a three-year-old. The pictures are often low res, extremely out of focus and the camera doesn’t do much more than point and shoot. But VTech’s new KidiZoom digital camera is so cool yet so easy to use it makes my point-and-shoot look really lame.

The KidiZoom is consistently rated the best digital camera for kids on the market—can you say that about your camera? Not only is it easy to use and offer a ton of really fun features, it’s built to withstand…well, kids! My digital camera has been dropped, drooled on, manhandled so many times I’m surprised it hasn’t left me for good. The KidiZoom can take those sticky fingers, less-than-gentle hands and whatever else your kids can throw at it. It even has an interchangeable faceplate just for kicks!

The KidiZoom doesn’t just take photos. It also lets your kids make movies, edit photos by distorting them or adding frames and “stickers” and comes with three games. Yes, I said GAMES! I have yet to find a single game on my digital camera. And the included connector cable lets you and your kids watch a photo slide show or their movies on the TV or PC. Other cool things about this camera: 2.0 megapixel and 16MB built-in memory. Not bad for a bright orange and yellow, super chunky, bring-on-the-party kids’ digital camera!

VTech sent our George their KidiZoom digital camera; he was the perfect reviewer since he’s one of the main culprits behind the fingerprints left on my camera’s lens. We had his camera open, batteries charged and inserted within moments of its arrival. Not only did George love that it came in his favorite color orange, but he loved that it was his camera. That kid snapped away for hours, and when he wasn’t looking his oldest sister took over and became a videographer for the day. They had that camera and all its options figured out before I even cracked open the instruction book! I have yet to figure out how to put “stickers” on photos; perhaps they’ll show me some day.

The best thing about the KidiZoom is I don’t have to worry about what the heck the kids might do to the camera. It can take it! And it means hours of entertainment without the use of a TV remote. At less than $50 (on VTech’s site) I’m totally sold on VTech’s KidiZoom camera. I would’ve included George’s take on his new camera but he was asleep by the time I started writing this review. I was able to catch my oldest daughter, who manages to steal the camera away from her little brother whenever possible. Madison had this to say about the KidiZoom:

The Kidizoom camera is so cool! I like how you can, like, decorate the pictures with, like, stickers and stuff. I had a lot of fun taking pictures even though it wasn’t my camera…And the videos of myself were hilarious!

Something that entertains both my three-year-old and pre-teen? Priceless!—Emily

Though the mini-class and full-day conference tickets for Moms Who Make It are sold out (by the way, the conference isn’t just for moms) there is still time to buy your afternoon/evening session tickets. This ticket will get you into main part of the conference, which includes our Shop & Socialize (browsing the boutiques and sponsors); inspiring keynote speakers; panel of fab women; breakout sessions on everything from motherhood to social media; a gourmet—and I truly mean gourmet—dinner; and Mocktail Party social. Did I mention we also have some fun swag for our attendees? I should know since the boxes arrive daily at my home!

To buy your evening session tickets before they’re sold out and take a peek at the schedule, click here!

One fun part of the Moms Who Make It conference is our Moms Who Are Making It spotlight. During this time we will be honoring 10 moms who have had difficult life circumstances but have used them as a catalyst to change their lives for the better. These are moms who have inspired you to look at your own life and think, “I can make it too!”

We will collect all the nominations and randomly select ten to be honored at the conference. Each time a mom is nominated she receives an entry into the drawing, so the more nominations the better her chance of being spotlighted at our event. These moms will receive a full-day ticket to the conference and some fun swag! If you know a mom who is “making it,” please email or comment a quick summary (200 words or less) on why you think she should be honored during the Moms Who Make It conference. You can send an email to momswhomakeit {at} createdbymom {dot} com.

If you wonder if you’ll be honored as one of our Moms Who Are Making It, buy your ticket now before the price goes up on July 7th (midnight) OR before they sell out! If you are chosen we will refund your ticket price.

We’re looking forward to sharing their stories and being inspired just as you have been inspired by them!

Moms Who Are Making It is sponsored by The Potted Pansy

Those who know me well know I’m not a crafty mom. I don’t do projects with my children and hide the glue, glitter and pipe cleaners. Okay, I don’t hide the pipe cleaners but if my kids want to do projects they’re on their own. That’s why I love those foam sticky things—easy to do and easy to clean up!

Speaking of easy to do and easy to clean up (and fun and creative and great fix for boredom), Lauren recently got to review one of Kidzsack’s back sacks. These cute backpack-like sacks come in eight screenprinted designs ready for coloring using the washable, non-toxic markers included in the package. The really cool thing is this isn’t a one-time coloring fix; you can wash the Kidzsack and start all over again. This is really important because if your daughter spends a long time coloring in the Sea Life Design, takes the sack to a pool party, puts her wet suit and towel in it, it will bleed and she will be disappointed—until you tell her it’s washable and she gets to play artist one more time!

An artist by nature Lauren loved coloring in all the fun sea creatures. I wish I had a picture of it before it met a wet swimsuit but as usual the batteries in my camera were dead. But it really was super cool and she’s anxiously waiting for me to wash it so she can do it again. I’m actually thinking this washable feature is great for a family with multiple children who all want to take a turn coloring the Kidzsack!

Did I mention that Kidzsack is mom invented, made in the USA and manufactured using recycled fabric? The fabric is made by combining recovered 100% cotton scraps and recycled polyester made from plastic soda bottles. So it’s mom friendly (i.e. keeps the kids entertained and it’s washable), kid friendly and environmentally friendly. Gotta love that! Another nifty thing is along with Kidzsack’s standard designs the company can create custom designs for customers. We’re talking the perfect gift item for aquariums, company picnics, resorts and even preschools.

Kidzsack recently won Creative Child magazine’s Preferred Choice Award for 2008 and the Dr. Toy Award for Best Vacation Toy. No surprise there! This product has creativity written all over it—well, written all over it once your child gets those washable markers in hand!—Emily

It’s the time of year that our boutique community waits for, Lisa “the Diva’s” Annual BBQ!

The Diva goes all out for her annual BBQ, catering to all the cute little kids as well as the adults! There’s always a well stocked candy cart, babysitting, entertainment, and of course the opportunity to meet with your children’s designer buddies from Ebay and beyond. Contact the Diva for full details, and wing your way out to NY this August

Boutique Cafe has been hard at work setting up new Fashion Show coverage for the New Year! We have a new Fashion Show coming very soon so keep watching!

In the meantime, don’t miss out on viewing past designers that we have featured on Boutique Cafe by clicking the Fashion Show button at the top of the page. Thank you for supporting these talented designers and WAHM’s.

if you’ve read my past LeapFrog reviews then you know I’m a big fan of the Tag reader. My three-year-old loves using the Tag reader to hear the dinosaurs in T. Rex’s Might Roar really roar and the critters in Ozzie and Mack chatter away. The only problem is, he’s still a bit young to truly get the idea behind using the Tag for more than play, and perhaps that’s my fault for not spending more time with him. Then again, I’m all about learning through play so it’s been a great experience so far!

Even so, in the back of my mind I thought it would be nice if there were a similar product for the slightly younger set, of which I have two in our family. Not surprisingly LeapFrog had the same idea and now you can find the Tag Junior on store shelves. This cute, chunky, perfect-for-little-hands reader uses the same technology as the original Tag but its library is made up of board books (yay for board books!) and is designed for children ages two to four. Little ones can hear stories, sound effects and music every time they place, or “stamp,” the Tag Junior on the pages of a Tag Junior book. And the library includes everything from ABC’s to Dr. Suess to Winnie the Pooh.

We received the new Tag Junior for George to review, but alas, we had issues…and not with the reader itself. First we didn’t have any AAA batteries, and then I bout AAA rechargeable batteries but the charger wasn’t working. We finally got the charger working and then couldn’t find the Tag Junior. Found the Tag Junior and then couldn’t find the accompanying book, If I Were…—and we still can’t find the book. But I will say the Tag Junior is still a hit without the book. My almost-two-year-old loves the sounds it makes and its perfect even for her little hands. I so totally love our original Tag I am desperately looking for If I Were…. My little ones (and my older ones) are just as anxious as I am to see this little guy in action!

Like the Tag, the Tag Junior also lets you track your child’s progress with LeapFrog’s Learning Path. Learning Path lets you see what skills your child is learning and find related articles and activities to help them refine those skills. It is truly an awesome product and awesome program. And with weeks still left in summer, the Tag Junior is a great way to mix things up when it’s 100+ degrees outside and Blue’s Clues is no longer cutting it. The Tag Junior starter set is only about $35 for the reader and the book; additional books are only about $10. (Note: As of right now you can not use the original Tag on Tag Junior books.)—Emily

Oh this one made me smile, I just couldn’t resist sharing the cuteness! 0-3month custom hat from Citefuzz on Etsy. Your little Chunky Monkey will be irresistable!

Available here >>

Back in December I reviewed the Flip Mino from Flip Video. This little handheld video camera has had a permanent residence in my diaper bag or purse since I first used it. I loved that I could whip it out at a moment’s notice for those once-in-a-lifetime video opportunities like hula hooping with my girlfriend or the need-to-upload-quickly videos like those I did for MomDot’s America’s Next Top Blogger competition. But my Flip Mino has recently been relocated to the desk drawer to make room for what might not be the “supermodel” of Flip cameras but what is definitely my favorite: the Flip Ultra HD.

The company sent the Flip Ultra HD so I could compare it with the Mino. Plus, the Mino has received a lot of hype lately and for some reason the Ultra is not getting any attention. I’m happy to send some of the spotlight its way! The Flip Ultra HD has a lot of similarities to my Flip Mino but one big difference—those two important letters, H and D. Is the picture that much different? Check it out for yourself. Here’s the aforementioned hula hooping moment:

And here’s our recent Saturday morning spent at the Hot Air Balloon Festival on the 4th of July:

By the way, if you can’t tell the difference then you might want to make an appointment with your optometrist. The HD has a much prettier picture for sure, and get this, it has a place for you to attach an HDMI cable from the camera to your TV so your family doesn’t have to crowd around the computer monitor to watch the videos. Now THAT is cool! Because my Flip Mino is not HD, I’m kind of comparing peaches to nectarines, which isn’t really fair when looking at my two sample videos but what the heck! I had to show you the difference HD really does make on this camera.

For the sake of this review I’ll stick with comparing the Flip Ultra HD to the Flip Mino HD, so here’s what else I love about the Flip Ultra HD: I actually like the slightly thicker body; I find it’s easier to hold on to and more comfortable when navigating the controls on the top. I also like having actual buttons (of a sort) to push rather than the touch-sensitive buttons on the Mino. And that’s not all—these features pretty much make the Ultra my permanent favorite:

• 8 GB of memory vs. 4 GB


• 120 min. of recording time vs. 60 min.


• 2” LCD screen with 960×240 resolution vs. 1.5” LCD screen with 528×132

The only thing that wasn’t totally superstar about the Flip Ultra HD is it took a bit longer to recharge than the Mino, but we’re talking twice the recording time, so it’s worth the wait!

I’m sure the Flip Mino HD has its benefits but the only one that comes to mind at this moment is size and weight. That half-inch difference in thickness when you’re talking about something this small does make a big difference, but since I’m toting around so much stuff anyway, the Flip Ultra HD suits me just fine. Of course, it has come in handy to have both the Mino and the Ultra, so I recommend buying one of each—and DEFINITELY go for the HD version.

By the way, I’m not kidding when I say, “Flip goes the world.” You know it’s big when Leslie Mills from Yanni Voices sees you backstage, recognizes your Flip camera and tells you she so totally wants one…—Emily

When my two older daughters were young I bought each of them a small, lightweight Laura Ashley suitcase from TJ Maxx. They were the cutest things and the perfect size for an overnighter or two at Grandma’s. Even now they use them if it’s a single-night’s stay and no serious travel is required. I would be afraid to send those little suitcases on a cross-country trip or through baggage check at the airport. There is no way they’d survive the abuse!

And yet those ever-popular, far-too-many, carry-on rolling suitcases aren’t very child friendly (nor are they cute like our Laura Ashley ones). My point? I think every child needs his or her own solid, baggage-claim-friendly, child-friendly suitcase. Why? Because they’re more apt to tote it, which means one less suitcase for you to worry about, and less likely to lose it because it’s so dang cool. That’s why I love the children’s line from Heys USA. It’s fun meets function meets “take me cross country—I can totally handle it” luggage!

Heys sent us the Tinkerbell suitcase from their Disney line. What first took me by surprise when I pulled it out of the box is how extremely light it was—checking the stats it weighs in at just over 3 pounds! It was like I was holding a sippy cup full of milk rather than a hard-shell suitcase. Heys is awesome because they’ve put a lot of thought into their children’s luggage, and not just putting Disney characters on the front (Cars, Nemo, Minnie Mouse to name a few). They also have a “reverse-curve” handle at a lower height that curves in and up making it much more comfortable to hold and navigate. (Navigation is very important when making your way through an airport!)

Our Tinkerbell suitcase also has wheels that protrude out so it keeps the elevated even when rolled by a height-challenged toddler. And the inline skate wheels make rolling that much easier! I also love the printed patterns inside the suitcase and the nifty zippered divider. It might just keep all the clothes, toys and “treasures” organized—time will only tell!

Heys also has children’s backpacks that look as sturdy yet comfy (i.e. lightweight) as their suitcases. And the company has really awesome luggage for adults including messenger bags, suitcases, laptop bags and even handbags. It’s kind of like being a kid in a candy store but with really cool, really shiny, super functional and fun candy!—Emily

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