I’m slowly learning there really is no work/life balance thing for me. Things go a lot more smoothly around here if the balance shifts in favor of family and so I’ll be taking some time off from posting Daily Dish reviews during the holidays. I might even find time to send out Christmas cards and make a few neighbor plates. (Who am I kidding?)

I’ll be back in full review force on January 5th. Until then enjoy some hot cocoa or hot apple cider while catching my favorite reviews from 2009. Happy holidays!
…

Em’s Favorite Reviews, 2009 Edition

Babycape—the superhero of winter coats
Loved testing the Babycape last winter and plan to use it again this winter season. Beautiful, soft, toasty and perfect for infants and toddlers. And guess what? One cape will last your child several seasons!

Pop Fly hits a home run with my kids
My kids still love Justin Roberts’ Pop Fly CD. It’s one of the most fun, danceable, groovable children’s CDs out there.

Time to change tactics!
My toddler has yet to be potty trained (she’s the most stubborn of the bunch) and so we’re still utilizing the diaper/wipes case. My favorite to date is JJ Cole’s Tactic Changing Purse. It goes from car to gym to church and is the perfect size for wipes, diapers, ointment and even a small change of clothes. (Fortunately we don’t need that anymore!)

I just can’t get enough!
We have featured See Kai Run multiple times on the Daily Dish and I never get tired of these perfect little children’s shoes. The pink Mary Jane Jennaes pictured in this post were worn by my daughter nearly every day of the week until she could no longer squish fit into them. We wore those shoes out and yet they still looked great enough to hand down to my friend’s little girl. Quite possibly my favorite pair of shoes Livi owns…or owned. {sniff}

Anne Taintor—better than popping Prozac
Anne Taintor’s vintage humor makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. It’s so my style. And yes, I’ve often wished I’d actually told my girlfriend to “stop me before I volunteer again.”

The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition: The hottest clutch to hit the runway!
I have used my HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition notebook (or Vivienne Tam for short) more times than I can count—and had more women ooh and aah over it every time I pull it out of my handbag. I still need to wipe the drool off the keyboard when I’m done tweeting, Facebooking, emailing and updating my blog via this handy handbag-sized notebook.

Add some ambiance to your favorite aroma
I use my Contempo Candle Warmer Lamp every day. I love this alternative to sooty candles and the danger an open flame around a curious preschool-age boy poses. I just replaced my fruity pomegranate candle with a more appropriate spice one for the holidays. The smell is wonderful and the light gives off just the right glow in the evening.

Hapari makes swimsuit shopping a happy experience
Fabulous tankinis and bikinis in super fun prints combined with high-quality fabric and construction make these suits some of my faves. I’m also a big fan of their Shore, a sort of half-shirt-meets-cap-sleeve style layering tee that I’ve found works wonderfully well under dresses.

Photofiddle Dad this Father’s Day—he’ll love it!
I have my Photofiddled canvas artwork displayed on our dresser and not a day goes by that I don’t absolute love looking at it. Nothing like creating a work of art from a digital file!

Flip goes the world!
By now you’ve heard of Flip video and their handy, dandy line of mini handheld video cameras. I have two, the Mino and the UltraHD and the UltraHD is by far my favorite. Though not as compact as the Mino it takes superb video. We use our Flip all the time; so much so we forget we own a “real” handheld video camera. That thing has an inch of dust on it by now.

Kickin’ it on a mini kick scooter
George rocked and rolled his Kickboard USA mini kick scooter all summer long. Though we discovered leaving it in direct sunlight for extended periods of time fades the beautiful orange color, this is still my son’s favorite scooter and I love that it’s more stable than the Razor ones my girls ride. If you’re in the market for a preschool-friendly scooter, this is it!

CurlyQ Cuties for your little cutie!
Looking for a unique children’s gift? Heck, even an adult would love the custom monsters you can make using CurlyQ Cuties’ online Monster-Maker. George’s CurlyQ Cutie is still one of his favorite “reviews”—he loves that thing!

My new favorite tote
My Ann Judge Everyday tote served me well during our last vacation and it’s still my go-to bag when I need to pack more than the necessities like lip gloss, wallet and cell phone. Well made, beautiful and perfect for travel overseas and around town.

Jewelry storage disguised as art
Beautiful fabric + hand-finished wood dowels + convenient hooks = the perfect way to manage/display/organize/make sense of your earring collection. Need I say more?

Can functional be fun? Heck, yes!
Though one of my most recent reviews it still makes my fave list for 2009. The wit and real-life wisdom of Knock Knock’s products make for some serious chuckles if not outright laughter. Perfect for gift giving whether for yourself or that annoying coworker.

Our review dates are already filling up for the first quarter of 2010. If you would like your product or site featured on the Daily Dish, shoot us an email at dailydish{at}boutiquecafe.com.

See you in 2010!

We’re celebrating the holidays a little differently this year at Boutique Cafe, my new baby Lola Olivia was born on Dec. 10th and isn’t sleeping at night. Needless to say I had to find a creative way of bringing the holiday spirit to our viewers, while including some extra help from a few special friends to pull it all together. What I came up with was a wandering through various homes in our very own Boutique Community!!

This idea makes me feel like Robin Leach from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (minus the accent)!! It’s a fun little holiday jaunt into the homes of some very creative gals who give so much year-round to their families and community. We hope you feel inspired by the Christmas decor, so cozy up with your hot cocoa and visit the homes of some of our closest friends.

Holiday Homes Included in this episode:
Chelsea – Vintage Chic (Free!! Pillow tutorial on her blog>>)
Patty – Mod Kid Boutique
Emily – georgietees
Liz – LizzyAnne
Lisa – The Domestic Diva(TUTORIALS: Make Tulle Garland, Bow Tutorial, Scents of the Season, Gift Wrapping Tutorial)
Catherine – our “Muirhead Family” Tree
Daria – Boutique Cafe

Don’t miss out on the incredible shopping deals in our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide>>

Happy Holidays with love from Boutique Cafe! See you in the New Year!

*** Giveaway! Boutique Cafe wants to make your holiday extra merry by giving away two (2) Zhu Zhu Pets to two Very Lucky BC readers!
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:
• Leave a comment in our shownotes for this episode telling us your favorite holiday tradition!
• Become a fan of Boutique Cafe on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
• Follow Boutique Cafe on Twitter (@BoutiqueCafe) and leave a comment telling is you’re our 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 two winners from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: December 26, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

** Click button below to view video coverage, or view it on our YouTube channel right here>>

QUICK BOW TUTORIAL with Lisa Carroccio (The Domestic Diva)

Here’s a quick & easy Bowdabra Tutorial …

Get out your junky craft scissors and some florist wire. Cut a piece about 12 inches long.

Place the wire through the center of the Bowdabra.

Leaving 12_ for the tail of the bow, cinch ribbon between the holder.

Make a loop and twist it away from you…then place in between the holder.

Make as many loops as you want as long as you have the same amount of loops on each side. I usually do 6 or 8 loops in total.

Cut the ribbon leaving another 12 inch ribbon tall.

Cross the wire and twist tightly. Then fluff your bow.

And if you don’t dovetail the ends of the ribbon, everyone will think you are an amateur…
Fold the ribbon end in half lengthwise (do not crease it). Cut across at an angle to form the dovetail end.

GIFT WRAPPING with Lisa Carroccio (The Domestic Diva)

I hope you don’t think I’m mental, but my favorite holiday activity is GIFT WRAPPING. I “try” to wrap each night as new purchases come into my home. It helps to have a “gift wrapping station” set up in your home…a simple table with all the supplies you need to wrap gifts. My station has several holiday gift papers on rolls which are contained in a Rubbermaid™ Gift Wrap Holder.



I keep several rolls of fancy gold and ivory ribbon, tulle, my handy dandy Bowdabra™ (the Diva’s bow-making secret), place cards (used as gift tags), scotch tape (on the big rolls in the office tape dispenser), plain white boxes, tons of gold gift bags, gold Calligraphy markers and my hot glue gun. Each gift, no matter, how small, is wrapped with care and is adorned with a nice bow.


Stuck in the center of the bows are simple “holiday picks” such as silk flowers, ribbon roses, faux sugared berries, miniature ornaments, rhinestone buttons or some other glittered item. Year after year, my sisters fight over my bows as gifts are unwrapped on Christmas Day. They reuse them the following year to make their gifts “sparkle.”



Every year I designate a specific color and/or theme to each of my two kids. That way I don’t have to put name tags on them until Christmas Eve and the kids’ don’t know which gifts are theirs.


In the past, I’ve used some great color combinations for my teen daughter such as polka dots, zebra prints and tiffany blue. This year I’m using hot pink and black/white houndstooth for my daughter. My son will get either brown or turquoise blue depending on which wrapping paper I have the most of this year.


When gift wrapping, don’t restrict yourself to just ordinary white boxes. Get creative! I’ve used colored Chinese take-out boxes, fancy hat boxes and different baskets. If you’re going to be lazy and use gift bags, be sure to at least add a beautiful bow and handmade gift tag.

Also, don’t be afraid to use non-traditional colors. As a matter of fact, I NEVER use any red in my house. Any color can become a Christmas color is you add sparkle to it.

If you’re a fan of good ol’ folk music and would love to get your kids hooked on it too, then Sarah Lee Guthrie’s Go Waggaloo CD is a must for your collection. This 13-tack disk from the artist is a fun musical romp through traditional songs and some new ones–you’ll even find three songs with never-before-released lyrics by Woody Guthrie.

Though some of the songs on Go Waggaloo may have familiar lyrics you’ll find a new take on the traditional folk songs and some great little surprises like a cool scratching drum machine and even a song recorded on a cell phone by the Guthrie family while on a road trip. I think it is the sort of mystical “Oni’s Ponies” but can’t be sure. (I wonder if Sarah uses it as her ring tone?) Sarah’s not the only voice on Go Waggaloo. You’ll hear her husband Johnny Irion, the couple’s two daughters and a handful of family and friends (Arlo Gurthrie, Pete Seeger and Tao Rodriguez Seeger).

Though it wasn’t quite up there on the list of my kids’ favorite CDs (they prefer music with a little less folk and a little more funk), I found it a nice, relaxing listen compared to some of the crazier children’s tunes you’ll find in our collection. Plus I found it rather endearing to know it was the Guthrie’s daughters’ voices I was hearing sing along. Nothing like a good family singalong! My fave songs are “Go Waggaloo,” “Take Me to Show-and-Tell,” and “If Mama Had Four Hands.”

If you’d love to introduce your children to folk music then Go Waggaloo is the way to do it. Tailored to children with fun vocals, lyrics and music, your kids will be singing “She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain” right along with the Guthrie family in no time! –Emily

** Giveaway! Smithsonian Folkways is giving away two (2) copies of Go Waggaloo! 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:

•    Visit Go Waggaloo’s page and listen to samples from the tracks. Leave a comment telling us your favorite!
•    Become a fan of Boutique Cafe on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•    Follow Boutique Cafe on Twitter (@BoutiqueCafe) and leave a comment telling is you’re our 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 29, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Wehaf and renee, the winners of the Go Waggaloo CD 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!

Make nursing your baby a Stylish SNAP, with Ginger Snappz available on Etsy!

Our new baby girl Lola Olivia arrived on December 10th and since then I have been using my beautiful nursing cover sent from Ginger Snappz in their Yoko Flowers design. What a treat to have such a gorgeous cover, I feel spoiled each time I nurse Lola and get to drap the beautiful fabric over for coverage. We’ve had loads of guests dropping by, and I feel totally secure wearing this well made cover as it’s the perfect size to keep me modest. My favorite feature is how the neckline bows out with a flexible material to allow me to latch her easily, and I can gaze at her precious face while he nurses.

Other awesome features include the adjustable neck strap so it fits any mommy perfectly. The inner corner of your Ginger Snappz nursing cover also boasts a terry cloth corner pocket to keep breast pads or use as a face cloth for baby when you’re on the go. Their covers are lightweight and easily portable, just fold them up and store in your diaper bag before you hit the road.

Ginger Snappz come in the most glorious selection of fabrics, they are drool worthy and perfect for the mom who loves to be stylish and fashion conscious. Each nursing cover is handmade with love and available on Etsy through their popular shop, now the only problem is deciding which beautiful cover to choose! ~ Daria & baby Lola

*** Giveaway! Ginger Snappz is giving away one of their beautiful nursing covers! 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 thing you do:

• Visit Ginger Snappz Etsy shop and leave us a comment here telling us which nursing cover you adore.
• 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 24, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

The Little Black Dress (LBD) isn’t just for mommy anymore! Check out this elegant and classic cut dress from the Little Maven label by Tori Spelling. Right now the dress is on sale for your darling’s holiday wardrobe.
Snag this dress here>>

Article by: Lisa Carroccio The Domestic Diva

Nothing puts you in the holiday mood more than the smell of Christmas. Since Christmas scents are usually limited to Pine-Sol™ pine, sugar cookie and country kitchen apple scents, I started making my own. Combine the following:
1 sliced orange
1 sliced lemon
10 cloves
1 tablespoon Allspice
3 cinnamon sticks
Add two cups of water and simmer (low flame) on your stovetop. The smell fills your house! Occasionally add more water as it evaporates.

Article by: Lisa Carroccio The Domestic Diva

DIY: TULLE GARLAND TUTORIAL

I’ve always used tulle when decorating my Christmas tree. It’s the secret to making a cheap tree look full. Basically, I’d “stuff” the tree with tulle and call it a day. However, this year since I now have a full pre-lit Christmas tree, I needed to somehow find a way to incorporate tulle into my tree. What better way than to Tulle Garland?!

All you need is a serger and a few rolls of 6 inch tulle in whatever color you like. The color choices are endless. I used 4 rolls (100 feet each) of “Old Gold Shimmer” tulle. Tulle rolls are sold in increments of 25, 75 and 100 feet. Be sure to buy as much as needed or you’ll be making additional trips to the craft store like I did.

Serger Settings:
4-thread overlock
Gathering Serger Presser Foot (if you have one)
Left and Right Needle Tension = 8
Upper and Lower Looper Tension = NORMAL
Stitch Length = 5 (or highest available setting)
Differential Feed = 2 (or highest available setting)
Note: You can use a sewing machine to gather your tulle, but the serger makes it a fast project…and I’m all about speed.



With the roll of tulle in front of the machine, on your lap or on the floor (like I do), fold tulle in half as it comes off the roll (folded edge to the left). Use your right hand to guide tulle through the serger cutting off 1/4 inch. With your left hand, place two fingers behind the presser foot to prevent the tulle from feeding freely.

This helps the tulle gather even more. When your fingers can no longer hold the tulle from behind the machine, let it go. Repeat until you’ve gathered all your tulle needed.



Once you’ve gathered all your tulle, you’ll need to “poof” it by separating the two layers of the tulle.



This is what 400 feet of gathered tulle garland looks like. Just enough to decorate a 7 foot Christmas tree.

We are Knock Knock, a product design company with aspirations to greatness. We concoct, manufacture, and distribute witty objects of cosmopolitan panache from our shamelessly sunny perch on the left-hand coast. Our domain is desire rather than necessity, though we seek to infuse our creations with utility and meaning.

Like I said, functional can be totally fun if you’re talking Knock Knock and the company’s product line. Oh, and that shamelessly sunny perch? That would be Venice, California. With a perch like that how could you not turn out fabulously witty notepads like the Why I Must Get Drunk With You checklist and Don’t Kill the Kids babysitter pad? I’m a big sticky note user so they’re sticky pads totally tickle my fancy. My faves: Total Crap, Trees Were Killed and I Didn’t Realize You Were Cool Until sticky pads. And don’t get me started on the kits like the Personal Library Kit and the B*tch Kit. (Sorry, couldn’t resist throwing that one in there—we all have an inner one, you know…) By the way, the company’s philosophy is a must read. I couldn’t agree more with their list of beliefs.

Knock Knock sent me two of their Forgettable recycled reusable totes to review for our readers. Trust me when I say their humor doesn’t stop with the last checkbox on the Romance Pros-Cons checklist. These bags are infused with just as much humor as they are recycled water bottles (80% by the way). Knock Knock’s Forgettable totes are the most generously sized tote I’ve seen, and I have quite a collection in the back of my van. They include an interior pocket and solid (solid as in well woven) woven handles. Oh, and though the product description doesn’t say so, it seems like they’re slightly insulated as well.

“Remembering to bring the bag is half the battle…” That’s what you’ll read in the product description and oh, how true it is. I have all the good intentions in the world but for the life of me can’t remember those darn reusable bags. It was even a topic of discussion on a past #gno night on Twitter. But since I’ve had these Forgettable bags—and their passive-aggressive, eco-friendly humor—in my car I’ve actually remembered to tote my reusable totes with me when I hit the grocery store. Well, not every time but more often than I ever did before. Don’t believe me? Here’s a photo via Blackberry to prove it:

It’s like they infuse my van with this sort of environmentally friendly guilt and it follows me as I try to lock my doors and head into the store. Whatever it is, it’s working. They are by far my favorite reusable totes, which is saying a lot since my previous favorites were my Trader Joe’s bags…and I love Trader Joe’s.

I’m like a kid in a candy store when it comes to Knock Knock. So many notepads, sticky notes, books and bags and so little time. Even their site navigation makes me smile—notice the “Gifts For” has an “annoying people” subcategory. Nice. I believe there’s still time to order for the holidays, so if you have an annoying person in your life or simply a relative or friend who’s hard to shop for, I can guarantee Knock Knock will have the perfect gift. I mean, who doesn’t need the Insults & Comebacks for All Occasions handbook?

Note: The plastic bag you see in my shopping cart is the result of poor planning on my part. I left a few reusable totes at home and bought more than was on my list. Like that’s anything new.

*** Giveaway! Knock Knock is giving away one of their Forgettable reusable totes, winner’s choice! 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 thing you do:

•    Visit KnockKnock.biz and leave a comment telling us which product made you laugh out loud.
•    Follow Knock Knock on Twitter (@knockknock) and leave a comment telling us 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 24, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Melissa, the winner of the our Knock Knock 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 guessing by the lack of family Christmas cards we’ve received this year, many families are either opting to save trees or they’re as behind in their holiday preparations as we are. (I refuse to consider the option that people just don’t like us any more.) If you don’t feel like doing the 100-strong holiday card thing and yet want to do something “noteworthy” with your kids, give Kookie Stationary a test taste run.

Kookie Stationary is a line of these delectable cookie greeting cards you can fill out and give to your kids or have your kids fill out and give to Grandma, Dad, Santa or friends and family alike. The kit includes a large cookie and an edible food coloring marker. Fill out the cookie on the lines or spaces provided and then deliver by hand or mail (I’d use extra packaging if by mail). Or in the case of a Santa note, deliver by fireplace and glass of milk! The recipient can then either eat your tasty note or display it using the case in which it arrived. Me, I’m all for eating the dang thing but there are probably a few dedicated grandmas who’d be willing to display it so it’s a good thing it comes with a built-in easel.

We received two of Kookie Stationary’s holiday offerings and we’ve already filled out and delivered one of them. My two oldest were given the privilege of filling out the Santa cookie since they’re the only two and I desperately wanted to snap a few photos but as usual the batteries were dead in the camera. By the time I had them charged and ready to go the girls were done and the cookie was sealed in its box. The cookie did arrive with a broken Santa hat, but once we had it placed in the gift box it was hardly noticeable. The pen worked well and the girls had a great time writing a little note to their grandma.

We hand delivered the Santa stationary later that evening and Grandma proudly displayed it on her piano. Since it was displayed we didn’t get a chance to taste it so I can’t tell you if the cookie is as tasty as the site claims. Of course, we still have the Kookie for Santa card, which I’m going to let my little ones fill out (and by “fill out” I mean draw psychedelic sunshines and crazy stick figures). Once the resident Santa munches on it I’ll be able to tell you if the cookie’s as tasty as the idea behind Kookie Stationary.

Whether or not the cookie is a feast for the tastebuds, the stationary is a treat for the eyes. Kookie Stationary has everything from birthday and get well cards to princess and dragon cards and my favorite, the Searching for Friends card. At about $10 a piece they might be a little more than your typical Hallmark card, though those are close to $4 these days. But then again, the card itself is a great little gift so it’s like a fabulously yummy two-for-one deal!

Note: Kookie Stationary is located in Canada and ships to the U.S., but I could not find the shipping rates on their site without going through the checkout process. You may want to verify shipping before purchasing.

*** Giveaway! Kookie Stationary is giving away one themed holiday treat to two winners! 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 KookieStationary.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite Kookie.
•   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 22, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Lisa and Heather, the winners of the 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!

We love featuring Scholastic Storybook Treasures here on the Daily Dish. My children love the DVDs, which take favorite storybooks and turn them into classic animated stories my kids enjoy watching over and over again. I love how they remind me of my own favorite stories as a child and a simpler time before Spongebob and and his friends.

This holiday season my children are enjoying Scholastic Storybook Treasure’s The Night Before Christmas Special Edition two-pack of DVDs, which features all these great stories:

• The Night Before Christmas
• The Twelve Days of Christmas
• The Clown of God
• Great Joy in the Month of Kislev
• Merry Christmas, Space Case
• Seven Candles for Kwanzaa
• Too Many Tamales
• The Little Drummer Boy
• Max’s Christmas
• Morris’s Disappearing Bag
• Sam and the Lucky Monkey

That’s over two hours of multicultural, classic storybook stories! The stories are narrated by Jane Curtin, Anthony Edwards, Christopher Lloyd and other famous voices and the DVDs have won four awards including ALA Notable Video. Really and truly, The Nightmare Before Christmas Special Edition stories are a refreshing break from the “noise” that is Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and even Nick Jr. at times. (I can only handle so much Max & Ruby, even if they’re building a bunny-like snowman.)

You can find the two-pack of DVDs on Scholastic’s site along with a whole slew of wonderful animated classics. (They make great stocking stuffers, by the way!) We have quite the collection and have enjoyed every one. Plus as my younger ones get older they’ll be able to read along with many of the stories. I have yet to see follow-along captions on Wonder Pets! Happy holidays! –Emily

Dear friends, I want to share my immense joy with you as we welcome our new little daughter Lola Olivia into our family. She arrived on Thursday evening at 9:52 pm weighing in at 6 pds 5 ounces, 20 inches long, and sporting lots of dark gorgeous hair. Nathan and I are completely overwhelmed with love for our princess, we’ve waited for her for so long, and it was a very rough pregnancy/delivery. Thankfully our girl is here safe and sound, and beautiful!

Our four boys have been dotting on her and loving her up so much. They are over the moon to have a sister of their very own. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support through my pregnancy, many of you got me through these months and I’ll never forget it. I hope to be back to Boutique Cafe very shortly, but in the meantime I’m wrapped up in Lola and enjoying each moment of her first few days. I’ll share a link to see more and more pics of our Lola, I’ll be adding more so feel welcome to stop by and gush with me over her.

With love and thanks,
Daria, Nathan
The boys & Lola Olivia

Lola Olivia on Flickr>>

I have a lot of earrings and a very tiny jewelry box. This means any time I want to find a matching pair of earrings it’s like a hunt for buried treasure. Though I’ve tried to organize them a bit, there’s no helping the tangled mess that is my dangly earring collection. Something had to be done, but none of those oversized jewelry boxes appealed to me so I hit Etsy, one of my favorite places to shop.

I was not disappointed, for I came across KikiBella, which boasts “fashionable storage for your fabulous style.” I’m not sure I have fabulous style but I do need some fashionable (and functional) storage for my earrings and I found it in KikiBella’s earring organizers/jewelry displays. Kristie, the owner and designer of these fabric works of art, sent me the organizer that first caught my eye (Watercolors II) so I could review it on the Daily Dish and find out firsthand if her jewelry displays were as fabulous in real life as they look on Etsy. Because Watercolors II is not the typical size for a bellabella organizer (it’s slightly smaller), she also sent me one that was a typical size and one from the babybella collection (for children’s rooms; pictured at right).

Each KikiBella display is handmade using picked, “poke-proof” fabrics and trims. You’ll find everything from Japanese imports to vintage fabrics in the collection. The displays include two hand-cut, stained, varnished wood pieces, one at the top with two circular pieces for hanging the display and one on the bottom with a handful of hooks for hanging larger earrings, bracelets or necklaces. The minute I opened my Watercolors II KikiBella jewelry organizer I headed for my room to find the perfect place to display it. No, it wouldn’t go in my closet with the not-so-artistic hooks I have for my necklaces; it needed a spot worthy of a work of art since the colors matched my room’s decor perfectly. And I found just the place: right next to my closet on a wall that was quite possibly designed just for a KikiBella jewelry organizer:

Though not all earrings will work well (hoop earrings would have to be pretty close to the edge), I found the KikiBella display perfect for all my large dangly earrings and random earrings I don’t wear as often, plus the hooks on the bottom worked well for my favorite skinny bracelets. I did find a couple pairs of earrings easily slipped out of the fabric if I moved it around too much when adding another pair, but that was due more to the style of earring (a very wide, open hook style) and the double gauze fabric, which is unique to Watercolors II. The other fabrics in the collection aren’t quite is “filmy” as the one I choose.

The best part? No more jumbled earrings in my jewelry box! That little, old box has a new lease on life and I spend a lot less time digging through it looking for matching earrings. Apparently Kristie has a couple organizers hanging here and there in her home, for example, one in the bathroom and another in the bedroom. Though I’m one that needs everything kept in one place, I can totally see a use for having multiple ones depending on where you take off your jewelry.

The babybella jewelry organizers are super cute and would make a great gift for pre-teen girls who seem to have more earrings sets than See’s has candies! Kristie can even do custom designs combining your choice of fabric with your choice of wood pieces. (They come in a variety of finishes.) And unless you’re going for a custom order, KikiBella orders ship within 1 or 2 days via Priority Mail so you’re only days away from becoming beautifully organized–or days away from giving a wonderfully unique and stylishly functional gift for the holidays.

*** Giveaway! KikiBella is giving away one jewelry organizer/earring display, winner’s choice! 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 KikiBella on Etsy and leave a comment telling us your favorite design.
•    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 18, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Patricia, the winner of the KikiBella 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 wasn’t too long ago organic children’s clothing had very little to offer when it came to super stylish clothing. Though you could easily find onesies, tees and caps in muted colors, it was a bit more of a challenge to find a party-worthy dress or playdate-ready outfit. But times have changed and thanks to companies like Postively Organic, you can find eco-friendly children’s wear that sports serious style while managing to look good even after playgroup, park visits and everyday antics.

Positively Organic’s children’s clothes (sizes up to 4T with seasonal sizes up to 6) are made using certified organic cotton. The company combines earth-friendly materials and sweatshop-free/fair-trade manufacturing with “bold graphics, bright colors and hip yet simple designs.” From henley and raglan tees to kimono one-pieces and yoga pants, Positively Organic is not your typical organic children’s wear line. When they say “bright colors and hip yet simple designs,” they mean it! I’m lovin’ the Earthgirl raglan tee, long-sleeve Cowboy tee and printed blankets.

Positively Organic sent Livi a cute long-sleeve tee and pants set. Though a size smaller than she usually wears, the outfit was designed well enough so she is still able to wear it…and wear it she has! We’ve already worn and washed this outfit two or three times, and each time it seems to get softer. The colors have held up well to both play and laundry detergent and this has become one of our favorite go-to outfits. (Trust me, she likes the outfit. What she doesn’t like is my taking her picture.) Though the pants are now a bit short I still love putting this outfit on her for slow, comfy days around the house.

Positively Organic’s collection is reasonably priced, which makes it even sweeter, and they have a pretty awesome clearance going on right now too. The fall line has some yummy colors like the bright raspberry in Livi’s outfit and some great styles like the corduroy cuff-up jeans for boys. And don’t forget those adorable kimono rompers! Along with offering customers stylish organic clothing for kids, Positively Organic also works with several causes supporting children’s welfare and environmental responsibility. Your children will look good and you’ll feel good when dressing your kids in the chic styles from Positively Organic. –Emily

* Promotion! Positively Organic is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off any regularly priced item! Simply enter code “cafe09″ at checkout. Offer expires December 23, 2009.

Only once have I thought a pair of tube socks to be super cool, and that “once” was when Hank & JoJo sent me a box of their Retro Baby Tube Socks for review on the Daily Dish. Who knew a geeky sport sock (okay, maybe Patrick Dempsey could pull it off) could be turned into a stylin’ eco-friendly accessory for baby?

The first think you notice about Hank & JoJo’s box of tube socks, besides the fact that “box of tube socks” is a sweet little rhyme, is the packaging. This miniature tin lunchbox with it’s peek-a-boo window has the cutest, most whimsical characters on it. Made from lead-free tin and plastic (and exceeding CPSIA regulations for lead), this little box is recyclable, but I can guarantee you’ll be recycling it in-house as a piggy bank, display case for those little treasures toddlers collect or the perfect storage for tiny hair clips.

But enough about the lunchbox. Hank & JoJo’s set included four pairs of tube socks: Strawberry, Banana, Pear and Blueberry. The socks are made using 80% bamboo, which is grown without the use of chemicals and has natural UV protection. Dyed with toxin-free dyes, these little socks were designed for babies ages 0 to 12 months. The socks actually go up over the knee protecting legs and knees during tummy time and crawling. You can also use them like you would leg warmers—in warmer weather pair a pair with a onesie for quick and easy diaper changes.

When the pairs first arrived I was a bit sad because my youngest just turned two. I figured we would get very little use out of our Hank & JoJos until I realized these socks with their tube design means even older babies can wear them! Livi has already sported the Pear and the Strawberry. You can check out the Pear in the photo below. Trust me, I tried to get her to look at the camera and smile but what can you do when Yo Gabba Gabba! is on? Though they don’t go over her knee the do get close to it. Once washed the heel ends up about mid sole but because they’re so soft she doesn’t even notice. And I love that they’re the perfect socks for wearing with nightgowns—they keep her legs warm when her nighties ride up. Plus they’re great under jeans in cold weather!

I love anything that works for multiple ages and is stylish and eco-friendly and makes a great gift and has super cute packaging. Perhaps that’s why I love Hank & JoJo so much. But one more reason comes to mind: each purchase of Hank & JoJo Retro Baby Tube Socks “ensures that The Tiny Miracles Foundation, Tiny Treasures Program, is able to include on pair of Hank & JoJo socks in each Homecare Starter Kit for parents and premature infants release from Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport Connecticut NICUs.” Now THAT’S cool.

Priced at around $30 for the box set, Hank & JoJo Retro Baby Tube Socks make a wonderful gift for the holidays and post-holiday showers. ‘Tis the season for giving, and with these babies you’ll be giving two gifts at once. Totally tubular, baby! (Forgive me, I couldn’t resist…) –Emily

*** Giveaway! Hank & JoJo is giving away one box set of their Retro Baby Tube Socks! 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 HankandJoJo.com and leave a comment telling us you did (we trust you to be honest).
•    Become a fan of Hank & JoJo on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you’re their newest fan.
•    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 15, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Kari, the winner of the Hank & JoJo 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 wasn’t too long ago I reviewed ScooterBees for the first time on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish. I am still just as in love with their foot-friendly design (i.e., chunky feet, small feet, long toes included) and unique storytelling powers as I was when I first laid eyes on them—and Livi laid feet in them—in July. Unfortunately her feet were just about bursting at the seams of her pink Growing Bird ScooterBees, so those will be passed down to a little friend of hers…and we will have to do the same with the latest pair. Trust me, I’m crying silent tears as I write this review.

ScooterBees just launched it’s new 2010 collection, which features a line of supple leather shoes handmade in Peru. The company sent us the Bloom story (”a flower story from bud to bloom”) in a beautiful gray and you can believe I tried to make them fit Livi’s not-so-size-6.5 feet. The leather is super soft and dyed using vegetables and fruits grown at the tannery, so each color reflects the crop of the season. How cool is that? And the company doesn’t use the chemicals traditionally used in tanning leather so you can be sure each component of ScooterBees is made from sustainable and safe materials. As with their 2009 line, the company is all about being eco-friendly. The new collection features a midsole made from recycled carton and lined with recycled fleece fibers and an outsole made using natural and recycled rubber (PVC and phthalate free).

Here’s a really great little video I found on their site that shows how the ScooterBees StoryTelling Shoe works. (It would’ve taken me hours to try and put something like this together for you, and I was too busy trying to get Livi’s feet in those dang cute Bloom shoes!)

Do any of the shoes in your little one’s closet tell a story? I’m not talking the “I was worn while jumping in mud puddles” or “I’m her favorite pair of sparkly princess shoes.” I’m talking endangered animals or dinosaurs or egg in a nest to tweeting bird in just two flaps. If you want a unique gift this holiday that is as good for your child’s feet as it is for the environment then choose a story from either the bamboo or leather collections offered by ScooterBees.

So Livi’s feet never did fit into her ScooterBees shoes from the new 2010 collection. Can you tell I’m seriously sad about it? Fortunately she does have a BFF (yes, even at her young age) who is slightly smaller in stature and will be able to give these shoes a good test run. Guess I’ll have to settle for a review by proxy. Sigh… –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! ScooterBees is giving away one pair of shoes, winner’s choice! 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 the ones you do):

•    Visit ScooterBees.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite product.
•    Follow ScooterBees 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 14, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Heidi, 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!

Avon recently launched a new children’s fashion line and just in time for the holidays. Though I am on Avon customer, the only products I tend to buy are from their skin care and cosmetics lines, though once in a while I venture into the jewelry. I’ve never thought “fashion” when it comes to Avon but a first-hand look at a couple items from their new children’s line has me wondering if that might change.

The winter collection offers everything from party outfits to comfy warm-weather clothing. You’ll find plaid skirts, satin vests, ribbon sweaters, leggings, pajamas and even boots. (I love the cozy boots!) Sizes vary (and not everything is available yet) from about size 4/5 on up to 10/12. The clothing is heavy on girls with only a few offerings for boys, but that’s pretty true for Avon in general.

For today’s review Avon sent me the corduroy toggle coat and velour trim skirt, both in size 4/5. Because Livi is still a solid 2T she was a bit too small to give the two a thorough testing, but I did check them out as best I could. The corduroy toggle coat, which is a yummy candy apple red (see photo above), was pretty dang cool. It has a Sherpa-style lining even through the sleeves and seems like it will definitely hold up well in frigid temps like we’re having right now. The corduroy is soft and the toggles sturdy. What I love best about this coat is the color could easily work for a boy as well as a girl. Throw in a black beanie and gloves and you’ve got a decent boy’s coat too!

The velour trim skirt was silky, shimmery and very sweet. The flower embellishments and contrasting fabric made this skirt dressy, yet you could easily dress it down for casual wear. Though its lightweight fabric means it should be comfy no matter how long you manage to keep your four-year-old in the same outfit, I didn’t like how thin the material looked and felt. I snapped a photo hoping to give you an idea of the fabric–see below. You’ll definitely want to add some sort of petticoat or slip and throw on a good pair of tights if it’s winter. Even in the summer I’d think you’d want something under it.

Overall I think the winter collection is a fun and festive one (check out those sparkle flats!), though I do wish they’d add a few more items and offer them in a wider range of sizes, from 2T on up to 14 or so. Perhaps I just need to give Avon a little time! This is their first children’s fashion line, and for a first run they’ve done a pretty good job. You can find the entire collection online at Avon.com. –Emily

Cozy comfort abounds in this precious Santa Euro Hoodie & Leggings set from liltumblebugs on eBay.

This particular set is Ready Made, in a size 2T (measurements available in listing). Snag this set right here>>

Fortunately I’m not talking about the stay-put bootie you get after all that holiday eating–I’d stay far away from a company offering that! Nope, I’m talking about what is sure to become you and your child’s cold-weather friend this holiday season: the Stonz Wear bootie. I could think of no better intro than this cute video on Stonz Wear’s site:

Need I say more? Okay, yeah, I do since this is the Daily Dish and it is about our take on the latest and greatest products for parents and kids alike. Stonz Wear sent me a pair of their Daisy Brown booties for Livi and until recently it wasn’t cold enough to sport them around town…and then when it was cold enough we hibernated inside. That combined with them being a bit too large and my not yet purchasing the fabulous Sherpa-fleece linerz for Stonz means Livi hasn’t actually worn these babies yet. But I can tell you they are within easy access so once I get those Sherpa-lined Linerz (they’ll be on their way today!), these will be our go-to shoes here in frigid Utah. And here’s why:

• They are the cutest dang boots I’ve ever seen!
• Wind and water-resistant thanks to a nylon upper.
• Soft, comfortable fleece lining provides warmth.
• Easy on, easy off (need I say more?).
• Toggles at calf and ankle make sure these booties stay on!
• Skid-resistant soft soles.
• Machine wash and dry, inside out on delicate cycle. (Bet your current boots can’t do this!)
• Made in Canada by a mom who knows a thing or two about cold, wet weather.

Though they do come with a fleece lining I am definitely adding a pair of Linerz to the boots. Stonz Linerz fit snugly inside and add even more warmth to the bootie and I love that the top of the Linerz can either fold over the top or you can leave them up for extra warmth. That’s a lot of warmth…you feelin’ warm yet? (Note: The Linerz will make the boots fit a titch smaller so size accordingly.)

Stonz Wear booties are now available for children up to four years of age–how cool is that? Though at about $45 they are slightly pricier than a snow boot from Target they are definitely worth it. Think of how much time you’ll save getting these booties on and off (we’ve already wasted too much time in our house trying to cram feet into snow boots) and knowing exactly where they are at all times (on their feet, of course!). Stonz Wear also has the most adorable collection of reversible and pointy Hatz and Mittz. I’m tempted to get the matching Daisy Brown Mittz to go with Livi’s new Booties. What a fashion statement that will make at the next sledding trip! –Emily

Hello! My new organic towels from Welspun are here!

After the exciting release of my organic bedding, I’m so happy to expand the collection with my beautiful bath towels. Made with 10% organic exchange cotton, these towels are super soft to the touch. The bold and vibrant colors will brighten up any bathroom space even in the wee hours of the morning when waking up is so hard to do. These joyful designs will lift your spirits and get you going!

My new line will be available in my online shop, along with Bed, Bath & Beyond stores nationwide and on Bed, Bath & Beyond.com (with many more retailers to come!). Please visit my website for inspirational photos and all the great details.

Warmest Wishes,
Amy

I am the bag lady. I received a weekender bag from Peasant & Travelers and i love it.

It is made for a man, yet perfect for me. It is a metro man’s bag. Designer Jee Kim has designed a refined and contemporary line that delivers exceptional detailing that marries style and function for men.

But…hold up. It is just perfect for a lady too.

It’s big but not too big. Small but not too small. Sounds like a contradiction right?
Yet, the bag is just that– big but small.

Big in that it fits so much!
I took off for the weekend and I put it to the test because I didn’t want it to look like I packed my closet, but, I also needed 3 pairs of shoes, plus warm and cool clothes. Suffice to say I got my 3 pairs of shoes in and all outfits I wanted to bring. I didn’t have to skimp on my packing and I didn’t need a mule to carry my load.

It is small enough to strap on your shoulder and carry as an adorable oversized bag. The classic brown exterior with bright cobalt blue and white gingham interior has all the makings of a must-have bag. It really could be for the male or female in your life. It has durable material, pockets inside & out and the bag can collapse down flat.

This cool urban overnighter bag is durable and versatile.
I pretty much love my new bag and think you would love one too. Really…it could be used for more than just packing up your closet and going. It could be your toy bag, your picnic bag, your errands bag. I love it and think you will too!

It can be found online at Peasants & Travelers.
-Amber

Article by: Jennifer Cirka

Hello!! I am so excited to be writing for Daria and Boutique Café!! My name is Jennifer Cirka, but many of you may know me as Jaybird Designs. I am a professional crochet designer and independent publisher. My designs have been featured in magazines such as Crochet Today!, Crochet World and Interweave Crochet along with a booklet called “Top-sy Turvy” with Leisure Arts.

Along with all my mompreneur responsibilities I am also a stay at home mom of one, and wife. With this job, like many of you, I am also responsible for the family finances. When I quit working for the USPS six years ago, our family’s income was greatly reduced. I had to learn a lot about being frugal and saving money. I actually started my business to support my yarn and craft habit!

Now, I am in no way an expert on this subject, but through the years I have met many people and found many sites that are! With their help, I am happy to say that not only is my business growing, but my family has been debt free (with the exception of our home) for almost 2 years now! I’d like to share some of my secrets with you!

Every morning, with my cup of coffee, I have a series of websites that I visit. My hands down favorite is One Pretty Thing. She has compiled a list of some of the BEST do-it-yourself projects on the web! From Christmas and Hanukkah décor, easy to make handmade gifts, and even tips for your business, you can find tons of useful and inexpensive ideas on her site. And the best part is that she does the internet searching for you! Not crafty or too busy? I bet you know another mom who is and could use a little extra money this holiday season.

Now, for the savvy shopper in you, I always check out Slick Deals. Every day you can find some great deals on items, especially now for your Christmas shopping!! The other day I scored an awesome deal at Victoria’s Secret, three sweaters and a free scarf for only $31! Guess what will be under my Christmas tree this year? I’m currently on the lookout here for some other great gift ideas!

And if your dream this holiday season is to be debt free, you must check out Dave Ramsey! My family listens to his radio show a lot and we got tons of tips and great ideas that helped us. When refinancing our house this summer, we contacted one of his preferred mortgage providers and they actually told us that the deal we were offered from our current mortgage company was better than anything they could do for us! I was shocked…they were turning down our business! We managed to combine our original 30-year mortgage along with our Home Equity Loan and drop down to a 15 year mortgage. We paid cash for the closing costs and our monthly payments dropped $30!! Our new goal is to have the house paid off before our first grader graduates from High School.

Well, I hope you enjoyed a sneak peek at some of my secrets. I look forward to sharing more with you through Mompreneur Corner.

Jennifer Cirka
www.jaybird-designs.com
www.jaybirddesigns.etsy.com

My husband absolutely loves books on CD (or MP3 or whatever format in which he can get them) and he makes lets us all listen to them whenever he can. Though I prefer alternative music to audio books, I humor him and the kids whenever we make a drive to my in-laws’ or his grandmother’s home, both a good half hour away.

But in a strange turn of events (due mainly to Maestro Classics sending me a CD to review for Boutique Cafe readers), Mom busted out a book on CD during our last drive up north. The Tortoise and the Hare is the latest release from Maestro Classics, a company that utilizes “wondrous new recordings, innovative educational and performance materials, and uplifting live performances … [to guide] audiences as they expand their listening horizons and discover the magic that can only be called music.”

My family can always use their horizons expanded so I popped in the CD and then passed around the accompanying booklet, which has activities and features illustrations by nationally recognized children’s book illustrator Renee Andriani. The Tortoise and the Hare takes the classic Aesop fable, sets it to an original score by Stephen Simon and then throws in the London Philharmonic Orchestra for good measure. Once we got the fade/balance thing right in the car so all parties could hear, the kids and the parents enjoyed the narration, especially with the added Mrs. Beaver character who runs the local bistro. As you know, I’m sold if it involves food.

If a book on CD can keep my children’s attention for more than five minutes, it’s a keeper…and The Tortoise and the Hare is a keeper! It even has a few bonus tracks filling in listeners about how the music is composed, more info about the original tale and even a Dixieland rendition of the “Pretzel Vendor of Paris,” which you’ll hear during the tale.

You can find The Tortoise and the Hare and the full collection of Maestro Classics on the website, including Peter and the Wolf (one of my favorites!), The Story of Swan Lake and Casey at the Bat.

*** Giveaway! Maestro Classics is giving away 3 The Tortoise and the Hare CDs! What a great stocking stuffer for the holidays! 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. Remember to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

• Visit Maestro Classics online and leave a comment telling us which other CD you’d love to hear.
• 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 8, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Christine, Shelley and Janelle, the winners of the Maestro Classics 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!