Press Release:
Boutique Cafe Kicks off Holidays with Mompreneur Corner & 2009 Holiday Gift Guide
CANADA—November 30, 2009— From the very beginning Boutique Café’s passion has been supporting mom entrepreneurs (“mompreneurs”) and women in business. For over five years the website’s podcast interviews, fashion show spotlights, product reviews and various forms of advertising have given added attention to women business owners.
Daria Muirhead, Boutique Café’s owner and podcast hostess, is all about helping these women fulfill their dreams. In another effort to do so she recently launched Mompreneur Corner, a new feature on Boutique Café that will showcase featured articles by and for incredible business women. The weekly articles will cover a wide range of topics, from the importance of branding your business to better balancing family and business. Mompreneur Corner will offer readers specific how-to’s from expert panelists in areas such as fabric design, product placement, advertising, stress management, mothering from behind a desk and zeroing in on your passion.
“I have put together a wonderfully talented group of women for our Mompreneur Corner feature. They will quickly become an integral and ongoing part of Boutique Café and I am excited to share their talents and expertise with our audience,” said Daria.
In addition to the new Mompreneur section on Boutique Café, the site is currently showcasing its 2009 Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide. The gift guide is packed full of discount codes, free shipping offers and other special promotions. This is fourth installment of the website’s popular holiday shopping guide and is a tremendous draw for readers and advertisers alike (many of whom happen to be work-at-home moms and mompreneurs).
Whether you’re interest is family or business (or holiday shopping), you can find what you’re looking for on Boutique Café.
About Boutique Café
Boutique Café is the world’s first boutique podcast. The site’s weekly shows highlight topics of interest to fashion savvy moms around the world. Whether readers are looking for a new muse, the latest in fashion for children, reviews on must-have products or tips and tricks for women business owners, Boutique Café can help. Besides producing a highly portable and downloadable radio show, the site also supports a community forum of buyers, designers, moms and professionals. Boutique Café has experienced great success in its first five years of operation and has gained thousands of subscribers to the show as well as thousands of visitors to the site each day. Visit BoutiqueCafe.com for more information.
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Our wildly popular 2009 Holiday Gift Guide is brimming with sweet festive savings. Enjoy this little commercial we’ve produced featuring the current discounts, promo codes and deals you can snag on amazing products & services (discount codes valid till Jan. 1st 2010).
To view the entire savings guide Click Here>> More promos are continually being added throughout the Christmas shopping season so keep checking back. Thank you for supporting these businesses, many of whom are mompreneur owned & operated small businesses. Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and jolly?!
Happy Holidays from Boutique Cafe!
** Please Tweet about this episode on Twitter. Include our name @BoutiqueCafe so we can cheer you all on! Thanks!
** Click button below to view video coverage, or view it on our YouTube channel right here>>
Aren’t these completely precious? These made to order Paglia boots are made by seller AmerieRose on Etsy.
Description:
“Whether you are going out to the lodge or shopping around town, your little snow bunny will be sure to impress at any winter soiree in these adorable boots. Made out of lovely Paula Prass fabric, and lined with super soft and cozy black fleece. These boots have black non-slip leather soles which are ideal for walking babies. Finally, these gorgeous boots are finished off with completely handmade pink roses reminiscent of the ones in the fabric. They even have gold edged leaves. ”
Size……..2…….3-6 months……..4″
Size……..3…….6-12 months…….4.5″
Size……..4…….12-18 months……5″
Size……..5…….18-24 months……5.5″
The u-shaped car seat pillow that transports your precious cargo to and from are also the best pillows for everyday pillow uses such as lying down and playing or in the stroller.
This pillow from shopbabymoon.com has a unique Velcro at the edge of the “U” to create a little circle just perfect for any newborn head. This unique function that takes one of the arms of the pillows and attaches by velcro to the other arm creates a perfect head support and can be adjusted just right to your baby’s head. The circular opening of the pillow cradles the back of the head while providing optimal positioning for the baby.
Detach the Velcro and cover the scratchy Velcro surface with the soft peek a boo flap and instantly it becomes a perfect neck support for your baby while in the car seat or in a stroller. The peek-a-boo flap is provided so it can cover the Velcro so there in no irritation.
Designed by a mom. Tested by a mom. Created just for your baby.
Available online at shopbabymoon.com
-Amber
Though we should be giving all year long, the holidays seem to be the time of the year for supporting worthy causes. What better way to support a worthy cause then stuff someone’s stocking with it?
Wear Your Music is line of super cool bracelets made using guitar strings. Wear Your Music actually has two lines of bracelets, the Artist line and the Fashion line. The Artist line features bracelets that are “handcrafted from recycled fine silver and guitar strings” actually used by well-known artists such as Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett and Tim McGraw. These bracelets sell for $100 and up (you can get Robert Trujillo’s from Metallica for $250 or John Mayer’s for $200) and proceeds go towards a charity of the artist’s choosing. The Fashion line is made using guitar strings in a variety of colors. These unisex bracelets are simple yet pretty dang hip and are perfect for music lovers of all ages. A percentage of the profits from the sale of these bracelets are donated to charities that support music.
Wear Your Music sent us a collection from their Fashion line and once they arrived I had to immediately divvy them up so the girls could wear them. I of course claimed my fave colors (black and red) and let the girls decide on the rest. They looked great doubled and tripled up and I found I loved wearing my black one mixed in with some of my favorite silver bracelets. The fit is universal so no worries about wrist size and they are extremely well made so they can hold up to whatever your music lover throws at them. And at about $9 a piece they make a wonderful stocking stuffer or gift for the holidays. I love finding unique gifts and a guitar-string bracelet from Wear Your Music is definitely one of them.
If you have a real guitar lover in the family you might want to consider a bracelet from Wear Your Music’s Artist line. Not only will you be giving a one-of-a-kind gift perfect for your musician but you’ll also be supporting a worthy cause. Now THAT rocks! –Emily
*** Giveaway! Wear Your Music is giving away an 8-piece collection (an $80 value) from their Fashion line to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do:
• Visit WearYourMusic.org and leave a comment telling us which artist’s bracelet you would absolutely LOVE to purchase (if money were no object!).
• Become a fan of the Wear Your Music charity project on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
• Follow Wear Your Music on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.
Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: December 1, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
* Congratulations to Lisa, the winner of the Wear Your Music 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!
I’m in serious baby mode now, with only a few weeks to go until our little girls arrival. When shopping Fat Quarter Shop this morning, I came across this adorable quilt pattern and HAD to share it with you!
Be sure to check out all of the awesome goodies at Fat Quarter Shop, and take advantage of the deal they are giving Boutique Cafe readers in our Holiday Gift Guide. 20% off a single order till Jan 1. 2010!! Use PromoCode “BoutiqueCafe”
…and the environment. With the latest info about phthalates and BPA and the move away from plastic bags and non-reusable containers when it comes to packing your child’s lunch, a few companies have taken up the cause to create lunchboxes that are both child friend and earth friendly. I’ve reviewed both the Kids Konserve lunch bag and the OOTS! Lunchbox and today I have a new one for you.
Though my girls don’t pack their lunches very often I am still trying to take baby steps on my way to helping our family be a bit more “green.” A reusable, eco-friendly lunchbox is one way we can make a small change in our habits, which will hopefully lead to more changes as we go. yubo sent me their Deluxe Lunchbox in a snappy orange–a good color for a family with both girls and boys. Before the lunchbox even arrived I was pretty excited to review it because although the previous ones I’ve featured on the Daily Dish were nifty, other than choosing your color or pattern, they weren’t extremely unique. yubo’s lunchboxes not only have removable faceplates but you can personalize them with your child’s name of even one of your own photos!
yubo’s Deluxe version comes with the lunchbox (of course), faceplate set (ours came with the “peace” set), three containers (one square plus two small rounds), a custom ice pack and a name tag. The kids saw the new lunchbox on the counter and immediately called dibs on who got to use it first. (My oldest won that one.) Though I quickly hand washed everything you can stick pretty much every part of the yubo into the dishwasher (except faceplates, tags and the ice pack). We love easy! The night before school my daughter packed her lunch complete with PB & honey sandwich, pretzels, carrots and fruit snacks.
Because her sandwich container had a little room she was able to throw in a pack of fruit snacks on top before closing it. Other than that there isn’t much room for anything except the ice pack. Of course if you don’t really need the ice pack you could throw in a granola bar or other small snack on top. She put everything inside, snapped on the lid, slipped in the faceplates and was ready to go. It fit nicely in the fridge so it kept the carrots cold until it was time for school the next day.
I would say out of the three this is my kids’ favorite lunchbox, but I will say as fun as it is to be able to change the design or personalize it or add one of any number of cool tags, it doesn’t hold that many items…unless you get creative and don’t need the ice pack. Otherwise you have a sandwich, two sides and that’s pretty much it. Perhaps that should be all you need for a school lunch, but I know by the time my girls eat (5 or so hours after breakfast), they’re pretty hungry. Of course you can buy different size containers so you could have three oval ones or four rounds and one oval one. But I have to say though the OOTS! lunchbox stacks vertically, which can be a pain if you need something on the bottom, it does offer a little more room for packing a few more things.
We didn’t received the drink holder to test but I do love that yubo lunch boxes offer this option, though I do wish it came included with the deluxe version. It’s a holder that attaches to the outside so you can carry a reusable water bottle and it’s insulated, which is super nice!
Overall the yubo wins our vote for its ease of use (easy access to everything, dishwasher safe); custom ice pack that takes up very little space; BPA-free materials, food-safe, anti-microbial agent; soft handle (forgot to mention that earlier); 100% recyclable materials AND the super cool faceplates and tags. Plus it comes in pink, orange and blue…and did I mention it’s easy to clean? At $29.95 for the Deluxe and $21.95 for the standard lunch box, it is more of an investment than your typical lunchbox but you are helping save the environment, and who can put a price on that? –Emily
* Promotion! yubo is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off their orders. Simply use code boucaf15 when checking out. Offer expires December 25, 2009.
Article by: Emily Hill
I don’t foresee myself being in front of a camera any time soon (one can hope though, right?) but I was still extremely interested in attending the Startup Princess Image & Media Academy. I’m all about putting my best foot—or outfit or eyeshadow or authentic self—forward!
The event took place last weekend at a beautiful cabin in Sundance (Utah), and thanks to Seth Jenks (@SethJenks) and APX Alarm I was able to attend. The company sponsored myself and two other gals including my good friend Quinn Curtis of CreatedByChicks.com and Limelight Food Photography. (Thank you, Seth!) I was only able to attend Friday night, and though I was sorely disappointed to miss Saturday (Cherie Burton’s class, Tara Starling’s professional styling and makeup, Russ Dixon’s photography and of course more girl bonding), I got enough out of Friday to reevaluate my own personal style both inside and out.
There’s just something about 25 entrepreneurial women in one room tucked away in snowy Sundance, well fed and ready to be inspired—I can’t explain it. But it was cool. My favorite of the evening was Skyping with Danielle LaPorte (@DanielleLaPorte) of White Hot Truth. When she was done speaking all I could do was sit there and let it all soak in…for a good ten minutes. It’s a good thing I took notes because it was fast and furious—and fabulous.
Sarah Ward from Cable Car Couture introduced me to the power of the collared shirt and Tara Starling of Starling Beauty Academy introduced many of us to the application of the color wheel in makeup. (Quinn and Janet may still be reeling after learning about the tensile strength of mascara-coated eyelashes…) And if all that stylin’ was glam enough, both e.l.f. cosmetics and Timex sponsored the event and so we freshly inspired women went home with some glam of our own. My girls oohed and aahed over e.l.f.’s mini makeup kits and I’m excited to own pretty much my first blingy accessory. ever.
Kelly King Anderson, Startup Princess herself, knows how to throw a good event and from what I’ve heard of Saturday’s adventures, the gals had a great time. You can read Quinn’s take on it here and here (she keeps you in suspense with a two-part recap) and catch the Whrrl story here. THANK YOU again to APX Alarm for sponsoring us. As far as security companies go, APX is pretty dang cool. They monitor not only burglary and fire but also carbon monoxide and medical emergencies. What you REALLY need to do is check out the APX Alarm blog–it has some really great articles on personal and family safety (love “Confessions of a Worryholic“) and they’ll be doing a series of holiday-related security posts as well. You’ll definitely want to add the APX Alarm blog feed to your reader!
If you want to feel like you were part of the action, head to TwitterSearch.com and check out the #supa09 hash tag. Even if you’re not planning to pose for the camera or pitch to the media you can catch a lot of what went on during the event. I tweeted my fair share of 140-character snatches on Friday and I’m sure there were quite a few more on Saturday.
Head on over to the Startup Princess site and subscribe to the feed so you don’t miss another conference or event and be sure to follow Kelly on Twitter (@startupprincess). As mompreneurs we can use all the inspiration (and girl bonding) we can get!
This news just in from Amber Hewitt (owner of Swanky Moms website).
There is now a brand NEW Swanky Community where moms can connect, share photos/videos and more, create groups and the list goes on. They have over 200 members so far and are looking for fun moms to join in!
And by “all-around” I mean literally all-around! This unique learning game–okay, it’s more like an interactive tool disguised as a game–incorporates a u-shaped mat so learning takes place all around your child. I am always up for reviewing and testing any product that takes a new twist on learning!
The U-Play Mat was designed by a New York pediatrician and mother of four. The design allows your child to sit and the floor, inside the opening of the U, and have full access to 15 clear pockets (5 on each side and 5 in front). The mat comes with about 8 sets of theme-based cards from animals to food to letters and you fill those clear pockets with those cards. For younger children you might only place 5 cards in front whereas for older children you’ll fill the entire thing. Then you get to make up games to play to help your child learn names, colors or even find matches. The mat, which comes with a tote to help organize the cards, also comes with some ideas for games you can play and then you can take it from there.
We set up the U-Play Mat on our family room floor and with a little direction from Mom, my oldest two took charge of a little learning time with their younger siblings. Livi went first:
And then George soon followed:
The girls had a great time working with the flash cards and cheering on their little brother and sister and I loved watching it all happen. My favorite part about it other than the super cool, super unique design? I didn’t have to locate a pair of AA or C batteries to get the thing going. We are far too plugged in at our home and going unplugged was definitely a welcome change. I was smiling the whole time while watching them get into our new U-Play Mat. How could you not when you have this taking place on your family room floor. Note at the end how Livi is super “anxious” (i.e. throwing a small fit) for her next turn:
We really had a great time with the U-Play Mat and with 8 sets of flash cards it’s sure to be a hit for a while. (And now I’ve found a great way for my oldest two to keep the youngest two busy!) The U-Play Mat is an all-around great time for our kids! –Emily
* Promotion! Play This Way is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their U-Play Mat purchase! Simply enter code BOUTIQUE10 when checking out.
Mompreneur’s may not always have the finances available to hire their own PR company, but never fear there’s a great resource for FREE PR advice from 20 yr. PR vetran Marina Echavarria.
Marina provides outstanding tips and information via her daily Build-A-Buzz newsletter, and website for all companies looking to pump up their PR efforts. PR no longer needs to be a budget buster, with Build-A-Buzz you can get your daily dose of expertise right to your email address. We LOVE this!! – Daria
Though I’m not a seasoned pro when it comes to layering (I’m often fashion challenged…just ask my good friend LeShan), I do own my share of cap-sleeve tees and tanks. The whole tank/cap-sleeve layering tee craze may have actually started here in Utah but I can’t be certain. No matter where or when it began I’m sure I’m not the only one with a rainbow of layering tees in her dresser drawer. With all those tees and all those brands (Shade, Layers and mod bod to name a few), is there a difference or all they pretty much the same?
After owning tanks from DownEast Basics and Shade, layering tees from Layers and then being sent a tank and cap-sleeve tee from undertease to review on the Daily Dish, I can tell you yes, there is a big difference, and not just in price. I have found there is a big difference in fabric and fit among all these brands and up until I received samples from undertease, Shade had my vote for fit and fabric while DownEast had my vote if you were going for price. But then undertease sent me a white cami and a black cap-sleeve tee…sigh…who new fabric could be this comfy? (Note: I’d have included an image of the white tank but it was too hard to see on the mannequin. The black shows the fit better.)
My undertease tank is now my tank of choice when I need a white tank under sweaters, tees or low-cut dresses and if I need a cap-sleeve layering tee, you better believe I’ll reach for my undertease one first. I was thinking I might need to hide the white tank because my oldest daughter is now “borrowing” it for her use, and then I realized I just need to tell her to leave my undertease alone and stick with Shade. My favorite features are the fabric, length and especially the straps. The straps are on the thinner side with a bit of stretch so it almost feels like I don’t have a tank on at all–and when you’re wearing multiple layers, the feel of less is more.
I wanted to find out what made the undertease tees so dang comfortable with a fit that lasted after washing and I discovered the company uses a blend of 46% cotton, 46% modal and 8% spandex. It’s that modal that makes their tees maintain their shape, feel and look even after numerous washes. They really are silky soft yet have that spandex so they hug your body without feeling bulky, an important thing when layering.
I can speak from personal experience on their cap-sleeve tee, too. (Two for tea and tea for two…sorry, couldn’t resist!) I wanted to see if their sleeves would eventually cut into my armpit like the “other” cap sleeves I own and tend to make that area sore after extended wear. I donned the black cap sleeve for a day of testing and due to either the style or the fabric (or both), it was comfortable all day long. No armpit soreness or discomfort or “how soon can I get this thing off.” I really could tell a difference and it felt great!
As much as I absolutely adore my new undertease the one thing I don’t adore is the price. While they are top on my list for fit, fabric, comfort and style all rolled into one, they are bottom on the list for price. I guess I should say it’s worth the investment, and perhaps it would be if they were only a handful of dollars more than those other brands, but at almost twice the price I have a hard time justifying the purchase. If I needed to wear them day in and day out I think I would make the investment as I’m sure undertease will hold up a lot longer than the other tees in my dresser drawer, but since I’m usually kicking it in jeans and a comfy tee, I think I’ll love and cherish the undertease I have and wait for a sale to pick up a few more.
undertease also offers long-sleeve tees and tees for maternity and plus sizes. If you want to try undertease before buying you can find them at Blend Fashions in Pleasant Grove, Utah, Nordstrom (undertease is part of their Half-Yearly Sale so you may find me there stocking up on a couple more!) and boutiques around the country. You can also find undertease on Facebook and Twitter. –Emily
With Daria expecting a baby in December, Designer and Friend Bari J. Ackerman steps in and brings us some spectacular video coverage of Fall Quilt Market 2009!
In the third installment of our Quilt Market Coverage, Bari interviews: Our outstanding friend & designer Patty Young. Patty shares her new fabric line “Flora & Fauna” as well as her upcoming patterns, and ready-to-ship patterns. Check out Patty’s website here>>. Bari J. also interviews the very talented Anna Maria Horner about her new “Little Folks” fabric line, upcoming projects & patterns…even her new book available Spring 2010 called “Handmade Beginnings”. Visit Anna Maria’s website & blog here>>.
Please join me in thanking Bari for her outstanding efforts and contribution to Boutique Cafe. Even more new interviews will be on the way in the coming weeks thanks to her! XO Bari, we love you ~ Daria
** Please Tweet about this episode on Twitter. Include our name @BoutiqueCafe so we can cheer you all on! Thanks!
** Click button below to view video coverage, or view it on our YouTube channel right here>>
The pan you’ve seen…it’s the corner lover’s dream. Emily did a review on the Baker’s Edge brownie pan.
The u-shaped pan bakes corners in more than just 4 corners. The brownie pan has been the craze with bakers everywhere and now the bakers edge has introduced the lasagna pan with the same extraordinary u-shaped lines.
I’m a simple cook…by that I mean I’m not very good at it. Lasagna is a big meal for me so I felt a bit overwhelmed with the task of putting this u-shaped pan to the test with all the ingredients that go into creating this pasta.
The preparation wasn’t bad at all. The noodles just fold into place with the u-shaped corners and everything else just pours perfectly into its spot. I put the pan in and minutes later I had a delicious crispy lasagna.
I think anything I create in the oven that comes out unburned is a masterpiece, so I needed an objective opinion. I took the lasagna out of the pan and dished it onto a couple plates and took it to my neighbors to get their take on the taste of this dish.
Sheepishly they began eating away because it did look crispier than any lasagna ought to be…but that is what makes this lasagna so good. Immediately they raved about the perfect pasta that is crispy on the outside yet deliciously cooked on the inside. I admitted that it wasn’t my amazing cooking skills nor my brand new oven that delivered such an appetizing lasagna but it was my incredible new u-shaped pan.
Our Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide is now LIVE for shopping and sweet deals on the website! We have oodles of new promotions coming in this this so please keep checking back, this is ONLY the beginning. Loads of holiday gift ideas, great promos and discounts will be found.
Interested in joining in? We’d love to showcase your stores and shops! We have a few remaining spots available. Email info@boutiquecafe.com for further details.
Delightful “Trix” design outfit from RoseyThreads on ebay for the WisteriaLane Breakfast Club launch!
“Euro style Vita done in bright cheerful colors, inspired from the Trix cereal box. Licensed Trix fabric that’s hard to find adds charm to the side panels of the dress. Lots of trim used on front and back bodice along with Smiley Face decorative buttons. Bottom panels also have rickrack trim and ruffles complete the design. Applique is whimsical and oh so much fun. My grandaughter loves the Trix Rabbit and we’re always saying “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for Kids”. The letters are double appliqued for lots of color and pop. Silly Rabbit is on both front and back panels.
In 2003, I started creating children’s clothing and needed a name. During an online chat with friends, several were suggested and I immediately was drawn to That Funky Boutique. Seemed catchy and I do like to have a playfulness and uniqueness in my creations. I’m no longer doing children’s items but it still seems to fit ok for my etsy shop.
Can you share your background in design?
From a young age I knew I wanted to be an artist. I can’t say enough about the professors I was able to learn from while getting a BFA with emphasis in Illustration and design. After school, I worked for an advertising company for several years where was able to design and illustrate national catalogs and then went off on my own as a freelance artist and designer. I’ve been freelancing ever since and consider it my main focus. Though my textile designs do take over during some seasons! Recent illustration clients include Chatti Patti, Knuckleheads Clothing, Portabello Pixie and others. My That Funky Boutique line fits in nicely between projects as I can never sit still.
Where do you find your inspiration for your creations? What part of
the process is your favorite?
Inspiration for my textile creations comes from all over the place. From my children, from nature, from the materials on hand. Those are the biggest jumping off points.
The first part in the process is my favorite. From early sketches to completing the sample.
How did you come up with your new HOT scarf design for fall? What are
the features of it that will make women want them this season?
My scarves came about on a whim. I hadn’t sewn in quite a long time due to a cross country move that demanded my time and energy. But I dusted off my machine to do some personal sewing for fun. My first scarf was originally going to be a throw blanket out of some wool and cashmere scraps. I did one long length to start the blanket. There happened to be a mirror close by where I was working and I caught a glimpse of myself with the piece. I threw it around my neck and viola. A unique scarf. I had a feeling it would sell and sell it did! Along with more than 100 more in the first month of selling. I never set out to sew and sell again but here I am enjoying it!
What has been the response since having your scarves featured last
week on The Today Show?
I was humbly honored to have my scarf requested for The Today Show segment. I’m hopeful that the segment brought in lots of viewers for all Etsy artisans! My sales are the same—selling about as fast as I can create them!
What are your future goals and projects?
I’m currently in the middle of illustrating sewing patterns for Sandi of Portabello Pixie. They are close to being finalized so keep an eye out at your local quilt stores. Sandi will have many new childrens’ and womens’ designs available in the next few months. As for my That Funky Boutique creations, the scarves have been so well received but I’m just a one woman show. My future goals are to find ways to increase production so I can take on more wholesale and retail sales next year.
Where can our readers find out more about you and your products?
Hooray! This section is a long time in the making, and an exciting step for Boutique Cafe. If you’ve visited our site before you know that supporting women & mompreneurs in business is our true passion. For over 5 years we have done podcast interviews, fashion show spotlights, product reviews and all manner of advertising to give added attention to mompreneurs in helping them fulfill their dreams.
Now with Mompreneur Corner we hope to take our journey a step further. We will be showcasing featured articles by and for incredible business women. These weekly articles will run the gamut of topics, everything from the importance of branding your business, to how to balance your home/work just a bit better. We’ll delve into specifics from expert panelists in arenas such as: fabric design, product placements, advertising, coping with stress, mothering from behind a desk, zeroing in on your passion and much much more!!
The most thrilling part of the venture comes from the calibre of writers we have lined up to share their talents and expertise with you. Over the past several years, it’s been my honor to connect with so many leaders and trail blazers in various fields – I have approached several key people to become an integral & ongoing part of Boutique Cafe…and they can’t wait!!
We invite you to join with us in this new step at Boutique Cafe, by adding your voice to our discussion as well as sharing these articles and features with your friends. This is only the beginning – welcome to Boutique Cafe’s NEW Mompreneur Corner! Please give us a shout-out in our comments today and let us know you are eager to begin.
~ Daria
With Daria expecting a baby in December, Designer and Friend Bari J. Ackerman steps in and brings us some spectacular video coverage of Fall Quilt Market 2009! In the second installment of our Quilt Market Coverage, Bari interviews: the talented and lovely Paula Prass about her new fabric line “Woodland Delight”, check out her popular blog for updates on her new pattern line release. Then Miss Sandi Henderson steps into the Boutique Cafe spotlight and discusses her new fabric line “Meadow Sweet”, as well as patterns and her upcoming book called “Sewing Bits & Pieces”. Learn more about Sandi on her beautiful blog as well.
Please join me in thanking Bari for her outstanding efforts and contribution to Boutique Cafe. Several new interviews will be on the way in the coming weeks thanks to her! XO Bari, we love you ~ Daria
** Please Tweet about this episode on Twitter. Include our name @BoutiqueCafe so we can cheer you all on! Thanks!
** Click button below to view video coverage, or view it on our YouTube channel right here>>
I. Love. LeapFrog. That pretty much says it all. The company has sent me their Tag Reader and Tag Junior to review on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish and adore them both, as do my kids ranging in age from 2 to 12. Okay, so maybe the 12-year-old doesn’t use the Tag Readers but she did think they were super cool. Basically, whenever LeapFrog has a new product they want me to review on the Daily Dish I’m all over it…because I know my kids will be too.
The latest addition to LeapFrog’s line of electronic learning products is the Zippity Learning System. This not-so-little gadget is sort of Dance Dance Revolution meets Wii meets old-school Atari controller–but for 3- to 5-year-old children. The set consists of an interactive mat and “bopper” plus a small console that plugs into the television. The console has places for extra games but already comes with 8 games (2 levels each) featuring fave Playhouse Disney shows like My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins. (Anyone else absolutely adore Little Einsteins?!?!) You can also purchase separate games with other popular characters like Lightning McQueen and those ever-effervescent Disney princesses.
George was so excited to try out his new Zippity he kept asking how soon ’til Dad was home he could play it. (Yes, I could have set it up but I love giving Dad a chance to get involved with these reviews.) But George couldn’t wait so big sister got it all plugged in and set up for him. After that it only took a few false starts to help George understand how the mat and bopper worked and away he went trying out each game (easy level only) and finding out his faves; he really enjoyed making June and Goofy dance and helping Handy Manny’s tools fix things. Don’t believe me? Here’s a little video for you:
And just like the Tag Reader and Tag Junior, the Zippity offers the built-in Learning Path so you can track the skills your child is exploring as they learn and play. It’s really pretty cool. Though I love the Zippity I will say a couple things bothered me. One, the amount of batteries this puppy takes. I think it’s like 4 C batteries for both the console and the mat…and I have yet to find rechargeable size C batteries. (We’re big fans of rechargeable batteries around here.) And two, even though the games are geared towards 3-year-olds and up, the easy levels moved a bit too slowly for both George and me. Touted as an “active” learning system, the only time George really got moving was when he free danced with June, and he was moving way too fast for the game to keep up with him!
But all in all the Zippity is a huge hit at our house and would make a great holiday gift for the preschooler in your home. Even Livi had a great time taking a turn on the mat–after she gave her sister the count of three to do something. (Who do you suppose she got that from?) Check out this outtake video:
*** Giveaway!!! LeapFrog is giving away one (1) Zippity Learning System to a lucky Daily Dish reader (and $80 value)! Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:
• Visit LeapFrog.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite LeapFrog product.
• Become a fan of LeapFrog on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you’re their newest fan.
• Follow LeapFrog on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.
Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 12, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.
* Congratulations to Sky S., the winner of the Zippity 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!
Giving Away 100 Tubs to Parents In A New Product Testing Challenge Are you a new parent? PUJ is looking for you!! We love to share great opportunities with our readership, and this is one you don’t want to miss:
Vancouver, WA – November 2, 2009 – Puj, a leading designer of modern baby products that help Simplify Parenthood, is putting its new Puj Tub to the test, literally. The company is looking for 100 parents to act as official product testers for its new Puj Tub. The Puj Tub has been hailed as one of the best baby products to come on the market in years, offering a revolutionary new way to bathe a baby. With this new Puj 100 Tub Challenge, parents can see for themselves how easy bathing a baby with the Puj Tub can be.
Parents everywhere know how anxiety-inducing bathing a newborn can be – such a delicate creature slipping and sliding can quickly cause inner panic. With the Puj Tub, parents are able to bathe their baby in a standard sink so there’s no bending over a big, awkward bathtub. The Puj Tub cradles the baby in a cushiony, non-absorbent and non-slip closed cell foam that is also PVC and BPA free. And once the bath is done, the Puj Tub dries fast and folds flat.
The Puj Tub will be available for purchase at the end of November at a price of $39.99; however, through the Puj 100 Tub Giveaway, parents with a blog can go to the Puj site and apply to receive the tub for free in exchange for being a product tester and sharing their honest views on the product. The 100 selected winners will also be listed as official product testers on www.pujbaby.com . In this economy, giving consumers an opportunity to try a product at no cost is welcome news. For more information on the Puj 100 Tub Giveaway please visit www.pujbaby.com
Puj designs products for parents with the focus on making their lives easier. As parents and designers, Katie and Ben Richardson know how wonderful yet challenging parenting can be and have set out to design products that Simplify Parenthood. Having designed products for numerous name brand companies, it just seemed natural to begin designing products that helped them raise their own children. From shoes that fit baby’s feet perfectly to the latest innovation in baby products, Puj Baby makes parents lives easier. For more information on the Puj Tub and Puj please visit www.pujbaby.com.
I’ve been writing reviews on Boutique Cafe for almost four years and have four children so it should be no surprise I’ve reviewed quite a few bibs on the Daily Dish. I’m not complaining; I have the messiest kids around and we’re always more than willing to review one. Trust me, we give it a thorough testing in this house! I have my favorites such as the ones by DaBib and OOTS! and today’s review can be added to the list.
JelliBee Baby offers a line of bibs aptly named NEAT that feature the coolest prints (Pop Girl and Purple Ink are my faves) and a style that offers superior coverage without being a full-on straight jacket. JelliBee Baby sent us the Melrose for Livi to test for this review and for once I was anxious to fix a messy meal just so we could slip it on and try it out. Unfortunately Livi’s in this “I’m going to do what I want to do no matter what you want me to do” stage so she refused to wear it. Thank goodness for George who always aims to please and was more than happy to wear it. Even though he’s older than the stated 24 months I wasn’t going to turn down a child who actually asked to wear a bib.
Our Melrose bib, though not the most manly print for a little boy, did feature the optional clear vinyl pouch–always a great way to catch misdirected food. His arms slipped through easily and the tie-back closure was a cinch. The NEAT bib is lined with 100% organic cotton and is reversible. Ours was the vinyl-faced with catch-all front but you can also find these bibs in fabric-only and clear vinyl-faced front styles. Like I mentioned above, the recommended age is 6 to 24 months but I found it worked just fine for George who’s pre-school age. Not only would it be good at keeping alfredo sauce off his shirt but also finger paints off his non-finger parts.
When mentioning to Jane Schwartz, the woman behind JelliBee Baby, how much George loved the bib she wanted me to let readers know her NEAT bibs really do have a lifespan longer than 18 months. Plus, and this is super exciting, JelliBee Baby will be introducing a line of smocks perfect for 3 to 5 year olds! As we say around here, “Whoo hoo!” Though the $18 price tag seems a little high for a bib, it’s the going rate for a bib that does a superior job at combining style and function and will last through multiple children (i.e., hundreds of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and washings).
JelliBee Baby also offers a line of chic wipes cases, wipes clutches, decorative hangers, booties and wool animals. Every single thing on that site would make a fabulous baby gift for an upcoming baby shower or holiday stocking stuffer–or a gift to yourself so you have one less shirt to spot with stain remover before washing. –Emily
* Promotion!JelliBee Baby is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off their orders. Simply use code NeatDish when checking out online. Offer expires November 30, 2009.
Aren’t these pretty?! I just discovered them in this cool shop on Etsy called Sumikoshop. While you’re there be sure to browse through their jewelry and accessories, they have some really great finds!
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Are you a new parent? PUJ is looking for you!! We love to share great opportunities with our readership, and this is one you don’t want to miss:
Aren’t these pretty?! I just discovered them in this cool shop on Etsy called Sumikoshop. While you’re there be sure to browse through their jewelry and accessories, they have some really great finds!
