I somehow made it through my first pregnancy without one stretch mark on my stomach, which was a surprise to me because when I hit growth spurts as a child, my body took on stretch marks like no one’s business! I’ve heard lots about subsequent pregnancies doing damage and so I wanted to make sure I protected my skin. I contacted Palmer’s and they sent me a whole slough of products to try out!

My most used product they sent has been the Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter. I like to slather it on my ever expanding belly right before bed. It’s smell is relaxing but not overbearing. Using it daily as really helped with itchy skin.

My absolute favourite baby product they sent me is the Cocoa Butter Formula Lil’ Face Butter Stick. Holly gets really chapped cheeks but won’t sit still long enough for me to rub lotion into her cheeks. The Butter Stick has been the perfect solution! It goes on just right and Holly actually holds still for it probably because it reminds her of lip chap! The Butter Stick has been the hugest lifesaver since cold weather hit and I recommend every Mom gets one!

Palmer’s sent me some other great products from their Cocoa Butter line such as their Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks, their Formula for Dry, Itchy Skin, their Skin Therapy Oil and their Firming Butter. I’m glad I have a bottle of firming butter. I’ll be using that right away post-pregnancy! I want to get back to myself as quick as possible and I’m so glad I have this Firming Butter!

Here’s a little more about the company:

Under the current ownership, the revolutionary brand Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula was created and introduced to the world. Since that time Palmer’s has expanded on its vast knowledge and heritage, developing brand ranges such as Skin Success, Shea Butter Formula, Olive Butter Formula, Coconut Oil Formula, Olive Oil Formula and Hair Success. These brands give E.T. Browne a strong presence in important market segments such as skin care, pregnancy, skin fade care, and hair care. Palmer’s has a global presence; available in over 80 countries offering the #1 Cocoa Butter brand in the world. This unique heritage and commitment to quality has stood the test of time, making Palmer’s a trusted household name, used by families for generations.

HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY - Ready! Set! Get Clickin’ – it’s time to shop and save with our Black Friday and Holiday Gift Guide merchants. We know you’ll find beautiful gifts for your family and friends. Please take a brief moment to Tweet this post on Twitter or share with your friends. Let’s keep everyone inside where it’s warm to shop today. Go Go Go!!

Our Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide – Promos and Discounts for BLACK FRIDAY:

Rosa Dolce Designs: Promo Code “BCHGG” for 25% off!
Glow Baby: 20% off your order with Promo Code “boutique”
Hip Fabric: “BC10” for 10% off your entire purchase (excludes shipping)
Girly Things Online: 10% Off your order! Use promo code “LAUNCH10”
Jilly bo Billy: Promo “Holiday20” for 20% off the already reduced prices!
ggrightsize.com: Free Shipping! Promo Code “33139” til Dec.31/2010
Margarita Bloom: 10% Off! With Promo Code “MBLUV”
Lola and Clementine beautiful fabrics on sale now!
Kickboard USA!: 15% Off! With promo code “BOUTIQUECAFE”
You Can Make This: 10% off your order with promo code “BoutiqueCafe”
Apple Pie Accessories: Get 10% off by using code “BoutiqueCafe” when ordering
My Lucky Wish: 20% off purchase. Enter Promo Code “BCHOLIDAY”
Bugalug:15% off for BC readers with Promo Code: BC15
Amy Michelle Go Totes: Chic and Classy Line on Sale through Dec.31st!
Boutique Graphics: 10% off using code “CAFE”
Olive & Ollie: 10% Off with Code “holiday10” at Check out
KIOKKO Bebe Couture: 20% Off your order. Use Promo “BOUTIQUECAFE”
Above All Fabric: Use Code “CAFE” for 15% off your order!!
Laurie’s Gifts: Visit for special holiday offers!
Fabric Shoppe: Great Prices on Fresh Designer Fabrics, Shipped Daily
Jewelry for Gifts: All jewelry comes to you in a beautiful foil gift box perfect for gift giving!
Boutique Cafe: $5.00 Off a Boutique Cafe Ad “MARKET” ad placement! Use Code “HOHOHO” with Paypal payment

The Magnificent Two Dollar Black Friday/Cyber Monday Listings:

MamiGirl Boutique:20% off Sale Friday Only in her Etsy Shop! Use code “THANKFUL” at Etsy cart checkout

Dizzlepop: BOGO / buy one get one 1/2 off my snappy coffee cozies through December 3!

Receiving Cuddles: All Custom orders for a Loved Blankie will get a matching Travel Blankie FREE! (*All orders for Christmas that require shipping MUST be in before the end of November)

Young Crafty Wife: 15% off code in my Etsy store, use “Blackfriday” in checkout!

Made-2-Matche: 27.99 deco set sale for boys and girls (We also have a frequent flyer program that allows you to earn free customs.)

M2MBoutique: We have a 10% off coupon “m2mbooutique” is the coupon code

Jilly bo Billy: Everything is 50-80% off, PLUS FREE Shipping Canada and US. Sale ends Sat midnight PST

Maya Papaya & Tony Macarony: 15% Off Purchase in my store. Check-out code “BCAFE15”, valid until Sunday Nov 28

Studio Lara: One Day BLACK FRIDAY SALE on select items!

The Nutmeg Tree: 30% off Baby Outerwear 25% off Crochet Ballet Slippers 20% off Ornaments!! AND best of all… FREE SHIPPING through Cyber Monday Nov. 29th!

Fun PersonaliTees: Use coupon code “20OFF” when you checkout at our Etsy store and you will receive 20% off your purchase all day Friday!

Fat Quarter Shop:20% OFF your order at the Fat Quarter Shop! Use code “blackfriday” during checkout before midnight Monday, November 29, 2010.

Fabric Hound: 40% off most reg priced merch- BF40 displayed in listings, 10% gift card for yourself when you buy (buy $100 GC, get $10), orders of $100+ get 10% off stackable coupon for later…Shop now!

Sweet Girl Boutique: 15% off with Promo Code “BLACK15”

So Fun Fabrics: All books are 15% off, all patterns are 25% off and all Moda pre-cuts are 25% off! Most fabric has been marked down to $6, $6.50 or $7 a yard. Sale prices are as marked – no promo code to bother with! Shop our Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale!

Fashionable Fabrics: Modern Designer Fabrics and Sewing Patterns at some of the best pricing on the internet plus 5% off everything in the shop till Dec 2nd. Use code “boutiquecafe5”

Ri Lala: Thanksgiving SALE from 11/26-11/28. I am giving a 20% off entire purchase use code: THANKS20 FREE shipping on purchases over $100 (after discount, shipping amount will be refunded through paypal) and FREE gift with your purchase

Details by Des: Use Promo Code “BLACKFRIDAY15” to save 15% on all purchases made today.

Servane Barrau Designs:10% 20% 40% off select items Black Friday – see site for all the savings!

Kiokko Bebe Couture: Enjoy 40% off entire order with code “BLACKFRIDAY” (valid until Nov 29th )

Little Bits by Lisa:20% discount on all purchases made from my website or Etsy and Ebay stores on Through Cyber Monday. However, hair accessories shown on my website are not included in this sale. Once your purchase and payment and have posted, your 20% discount will be refunded.

***MORE Promos and Discounts coming in throughout the day – keep checking back! (to include your shops promo discount for Black Friday contact daria@boutiquecafe.com)

Tomorrow is a BIG Day! BLACK FRIDAY sales galore.

Do you have a promo that you want mentioned on BoutiqueCafe tomorrow? We’re sharing all of our outstanding discount promos from our awesome Holiday Gift Guide as well as opening up the opportunity for our Facebook and mailing list friends to share theirs too!!

If you have a discount or sale going on for Black Friday in your shops, Etsy stores, websites etc. and want our Boutique Cafe traffic please email me the details including: url, promo explanation and you’ll receive a linky in our Boutique Cafe Black Friday Listing!! Cost to be included is $2 (we want it affordable for everyone). Paypal your $2 payment to boutiquecafe@gmail.com right away, and send over your info. Happy Sales To You! – XOXO Daria

For those of you who Love a great deal, be sure to swing by BoutiqueCafe for all the Black Friday savings! See you here tomorrow – minus the lines

I love the concept of upcycling: “the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.” (Thanks, Wikipedia.) To upcycle while creating a line of chic, stylish apparel and gear? Something more to love; hence my adoration of LooptWorks.

A little background (and a titch more about upcycling):

Looptworks is a ground-breaking business that repurposes abandoned materials into meaningful, long-lasting and limited-edition products. By re-using the world’s pre-consumer excess, the U.S.-based company aims to rid the world of waste while inspiring a generation to reduce their impact on the planet. ... Clothes that are discarded not only contribute solid waste in landfills, but also are part of a system that uses energy and creates carbon emissions in transit to distant lands. Cast-off clothing is replacing traditional locally made textiles, creating significant cultural and economic ramifications. ... Looptworks has turned the way traditional apparel companies manufacture cool clothing inside out. ...

LooptWorks sent me the Ningxia cowl neck top to review for you all, and let me tell you, it was such a sacrifice to wear this delicious, super soft, super comfortable upcycled tee. And by sacrifice I mean no sacrifice whatsoever. This shirt, which comes straight from Thailand, could be worn with yoga pants, a pair of comfy sweats, or skinny jeans and funky boots like I chose to do.

Later on I switched out my rain boots for a pair of black pointy-toed boots for a date night and it looked fabulous! Though I wish the bottom of the top fit a bit more snugly around my hips, I could live in this shirt. Who knew upcycling could be so freakin’ awesome?

Though a slightly higher price than I’d normally pay for a long-sleeve tee, now that I’ve worn LooptWorks’ Ningxia cowl neck top, I’m pretty much convinced it would be worth the investment.

If you want to learn something more about excess, watch the story of excess on the LooptWorks site. It’s pretty cool and does a great job personalizing the company.

If LooptWorks doesn’t convince you to try upcycling, nothing will.—Emily

• PROMOTION! LooptWorks is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off all items on their site with the code boutiquecafe15. This offer is good through December 31, 2010. I think you need to add a little upcycling with your Black Friday shopping, don’t you?

With extensive wish lists, multiple Santa-lap visits and gifts for names drawn during the last family gathering, your Christmas budget leaves little left for anything else. So what’s a girl to do when the company holiday party is around the corner and there’s no money—let alone time—to shop for a new dress? She spices up something she already owns with some fabulous holiday-worthy accessories!

Remember Shop Suey Boutique? The online store for celebrity looks without the celebrity price? I mentioned the wonderful collection of handbags but only briefly touched on the jewelry. Well, Shop Suey Boutique has a special holiday boutique that features some really beautiful pieces at really doable prices. I love the fun and funkiness of the Bailey necklace and the Rose clutch in red is to DIE for (see photo toward end of post)! Pair that baby with a chic black dress and some fabulous shoes and you’ll be the hit at the holiday party.

Shop Suey Boutique sent me the Snow Flower necklace (love the name!) from their holiday boutique so I could check it out for Daily Dish readers. I will admit, it’s more necklace than I’d normally wear, but I slipped it on and paraded around in front of the mirror and really liked what I saw. (No, I don’t have a photo. I was wearing my pj’s at the time and you would have been too distracted by my holey t-shirt to notice the necklace!)

I flipped over the necklace and checked out the underside and realized I have a pair of gold earrings that match the gold design on the back perfectly. Though you can’t see it, the back is really pretty too. (The necklace isn’t reversible; I was just curious.) The Snow Flower necklace does come with matching earrings, but I think I might jazz up the ensemble with a little more gold. I’m already planning what I can wear with it and how soon I can parade around somewhere other than my family room! I probably won’t wear it too often, though, as I’m a little worried the gold chain may tarnish, but a fancy piece like this wouldn’t get worn too often anyway for two reasons: one, I don’t go anywhere fancy; two, I have four kids.

Of course you don’t have to stick to what’s in their holiday boutique collection. Browse the rest of the site and I’m sure you’ll find more than one accessory, clutches included, to spice up a holiday party outfit or two. You might even wish you had more parties to attend after you see what Shop Suey Boutique has to offer!

Special Black Friday / Cyber Monday Promotion!

To help you with the aforementioned holiday budget crunch, Shop Suey Boutique is celebrating Black Friday and Cyber Monday all weekend long! Shop online at ShopSueyBoutique.com between November 25 (tomorrow!) and November 30 and receive one of four beautiful necklaces FREE with every purchase!* You’ll also enjoy FREE shipping on orders over $75! Shop on Cyber Monday (November 29) for an extra special selection of markdowns on new items (limited quantities available).

P.S. Shop Suey Boutique is offering Daily Dish readers 20% off their purchase! Simply enter code cafe20 at checkout. Combine your exclusive discount with the free necklace and free shipping and it’s almost like you got to sit on Santa’s lap!

* The color necklace will be selected for you but all four are gorgeous!

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

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

Boutique Cafe Holiday Wish List

If your company is interested in joining our popular Gift Guide, simply email daria@boutiquecafe.com and we’ll send you all the information you need.

**please feel welcome to grab this logo and link to our gift guide on your site. We love you for sharing!

Today, I’m bringing you a review that gives me a ton of piece of mind. As a mother of one, expecting a second, I have a lot of insecurities about giving my second child the same quality of attention my first has received. Even just in keeping track of progress. Enter The Essential Baby Organizer – Birth to One Year. A one stop spot for all your organized needs. I don’t want my children to be asking me when their first teeth popped through and to only be able to answer when the first child got her first tooth and not the second.

The Essential Baby Organizer – Birth to One Year provides space for weekly journalling, feeding charts, important contacts, and a quarterly letter to your baby. It’ll also help you keep track of gifts and borrowed items. Having this organizer has put my mind at ease already! I don’t know that we’ll use the feeding chart for the entire first year, but I know I’ll use it in the beginning rather than having loose pieces of paper floating around like last time.

Here’s what Essential Organizers have to say:

The Essential Baby Organizer provides plenty of pages to track baby’s feeding, sleeping, and diapering patterns—popular topics for parents, friends, caregivers, and pediatricians during the newborn months—along with useful benchmarks for what to expect as baby grows. Journal pages are sprinkled throughout the organizer, so even the busiest parents will capture every detail of infancy, including baby’s exciting “firsts”.

I’m really looking forward to using this Organizer and I know I’m going to rely heavily on it. If you’re expecting or planning to be, make sure you check out the Pregnancy Organizer. 40 weeks goes a lot faster than you think, trust me! – Katie

When pregnant, it can be difficult to look cute, never mind sexy. Let’s face it, the rising numbers on the scale, albeit healthy, don’t help. Being 28 weeks pregnant now, I was super excited to test out JBrand’s Mama J jeans – the straight leg style in indigo 3405. And I gotta say, my pregnant bod totally rocks these jeans. Or it’s more like these jeans rocking me. They are super flattering and may I even branch out to say sexy? My husband loves it when I slide into these bad boys. The back pockets are perfect, the wash is extraordinary… they’re great! The jeans ran true to size too. And JBrand has an excellent selection of maternity jeans.

It took me a little bit of time before I realized that the front pockets are show only, not actual pockets. And because the jeans have only triangular elastic cut-outs at the front and sit below the belly, I have to be careful when bending. I do like that the jeans have a proper waist band though.

To me, these weren’t early maternity jeans. I find that these have worked best as my belly has expanded because the waist is a bit bigger. Having a bigger belly helps keep them up and fitting right.

I think my favorite thing about these jeans is that the legs and hips don’t stretch out as I wear them. They don’t grow a size on me. I know they’ll fit the same at the end of the day as they did at the beginning. So when you’re buying a pair of Mama J’s for youself, buy the pair that fits the best in the fitting room cuz, hunny, they aren’t going to loosen up! But don’t worry, they fit true to size. I know these jeans are a little on the expensive side, but after owning, wearing, and loving them, I’ve become a believer in investing more in my jeans, especially since that’s what I wear the most! – Katie

What can I say, this guy is cute. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happily married, but if I were single and about 10 years younger, I might be giving this Nik Day my phone number along with a listen. I mean you have cute combined with music “similar to Michael Buble and Jason Mraz” and a “warm, raspy voice similar to that of John Mayer.” No brainer, right? Right.

Nik Day is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter from Utah who started writing music and playing piano when he was just 5 years old. (I think I was still trying to color within the lines and sing my ABCs.) He sent me his Interesting Shade of Blue CD to review on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish, and always one to support new talent, I was happy to pop it into the ol’ CD player. And that happened to be in the car.

Funny thing is, I put it in the 6-disc changer and forgot about it until listening to The Lower Lights on a Sunday drive. That CD ended and Nik Day’s CD began. And holy cow, did my ears perk up immediately as his voice came across our car’s speakers. I loved it and I loved pretty much every song on that CD. I found myself actually preferring that to my favorite radio stations, which is definitely saying something because I’m not a Michael Buble kind of gal. But Nik Day somehow combined the best of Buble with the aforementioned Jason Mraz and the combination was perfect.

Though a fairly new artist, Nik Day is going to go places. I can’t wait to see just how far he gets . . . and I can’t wait for him to release his next CD. (Interesting Shade of Blue only has five songs—not nearly enough.) Soon please, Nik. Very, very soon.

P.S. I googled Nik Day and discovered he has a previous CD, My Favorite Songs. Giving it a listen on Amazon.com, I discovered I may need it in my stocking this Christmas. Got that, Santa?

P.P.S. Nik sells most of his CDs in person, so the next best place to listen to and/or buy his music is on Amazon.com. And you will want to buy it, trust me.

*** Nik Day is giving away two (2) of his Interesting Shade of Blue CDs! ***

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:

•   Leave a comment telling us why you would like to win this CD.
•   Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet
•   Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 26, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Elizabeth T. and Nancy D., the winners of the Nik Day 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!

I first discovered Tees for Change in December of 2009. I wrote about them on isthisREALLYmylife.com simply because I love t-shirts and love t-shirts that support a cause even more.

When I was approached to “officially” review Tees for Change on Boutique Cafe, I jumped at the chance. I still love a comfy tee and love supporting a cause. A bit about Tees for Change:

Tees for Change is an inspirational apparel company dedicated to spreading positivity, making a difference and giving back. Our message is positive thinking and our medium is the t-shirt. Why a t-shirt? Because everyone can relate to a t-shirt and everyone has something to say!

Why can Tees for Change call their t-shirts sustainable? Because all tees are fair trade, made under sweatshop-free conditions and use 100% organic cotton or a blend of 70% bamboo/30% organic cotton. Plus the cotton is cultivated without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, while bamboo is fast-growing, needs no pesticides and is 100% biodegradable. That is a lot of coolness packed into one little t-shirt!

Tees for Change sent us their Embrace Change cap-sleeve tee in a yummy green. Unfortunately the medium ran a bit small for me, so I passed it to my oldest. And she wore it immediately. And it looked fabulous! The tee was super soft, and I mean SUPER soft, and Madison said it was really comfortable. Plus I love the positive message —a great reminder for all of us. (I didn’t snap a photo; lame, I know.) I did find the tee ran a bit short for my taste, and I think I’d prefer the short-sleeve style over the cap-sleeve, but it would make a fabulous go-to t-shirt no matter the style.

My other faves are their long-sleeve tees for winter with sayings like “today matters,” “choose happiness” and “seek balance” (a never-ending goal of mine!). Tees for Change also has a line of unisex tees, perfect as a meaningful gift this holiday season.

How meaningful? Along with giving the gift of inspiration, you’ll also give the gift of a tree. Tees for Change has partnered with Trees for the Future and will plant a tree for every tee purchased: “Trees for the Future plants trees in Asia, Latin America and Africa and our last tree planting helped plant over 5000 trees in Cameroon. We’ve planted over 10,000 trees since we started our company in Spring 2007.” Awesome.—Emily

***Giveaway! Tees for Change is giving away one tee, winner’s choice (a $42 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; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•  Visit TeesforChange.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite t-shirt.
•   “Like” Tees for Change on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•  Follow Tees for Change 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 25, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Valerie M., the winner of the Tees for Change 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!

Cate & Levi. What an awesome company! I’m sure you’ve heard of this company and seen their adorable products. I reviewed a hand puppet. I love that each of their products are unique – no two are the same. Which is so handy if you have a friend with the same toy! We keep our hand puppet in the diaper bag – it’s a great quiet toy. Holly, my daughter, loves having her hand pretend eaten and enjoys trying to do the same to me.

Founded by a father in search responsibly made and beautiful toys, Cate & Levi’s products are made from reclaimed wool whose colors and textures are individually selected. The process is environmentally responsible. Oh and 10% of the company’s products are donated to children in need. Can it get any better?

Cate & Levi also sent me a Walrus t-shirt. Boy, oh boy, is that ever a soft shirt! Although they’re prices are on the higher end, I definitely think it’s worth the buy. I love the company’s stance on design and responsibility and their quality is absolutely excellent. Any of their products would make excellent Holiday gifts! – Katie

These sweet as can be paper doll blocks from Tiny Giraffe Shop made me squeal with delight when I discovered them on Etsy. I knew Lola would be crazy about them, and frankly I adore them too! What’s not to love? Each block is so well made, fits perfectly in her little grasp and is covered with the most precious Vintage Paper Doll patterns. There’s something so wonderful about classic wooden toys for your children, the ability to Stack Play, and Spark imagination. I thought they were so perfect I just had to include them in her 1st Birthday photo shoot!

Tiny Giraffe Shop on Etsy has several styles to choose from including Jumbo Personalized Zoo Blocks, Simply Vintage Alphabet, Christmas Block Puzzles and more! I think they are the perfect Christmas gift for the little one in your life, Lola approves without hesitation. For me the choice of design was so easy, I feel instantly in love with the vintage dolls – the nostalgia of my own paper dolls made me long for that for my own daughter.

Handmade blocks from Tiny Giraffe shop will cost between $15-$30 for a set depending on the style you choose, a great value for something that your little darling will play with repeatedly and that looks so cute in their nursery too! Amy the owner and Artisan behind Tiny Giraffe Shop is a delight to deal with, adding to the joy of buying handmade and handcrafted items for your family and friends. Be sure to snag your set of blocks soon, the holidays are just a few weeks away! – Daria

Follow Tiny Giraffe Shop on Twitter>
Like Tiny Giraffe Shop on Facebook>

(photo credit & thanks to: Elizabeth of LizzyAnne.com)

My latest “getting ready for baby” item is a hammock and okoa stand from Hushamok. I just had to gush to you how awesome and beautiful this stand and hammock is! Everyone that has visited our home has commented on it and is intrigued by it. And there’s not even a baby in it yet! On it’s own, it’s a beautiful fixture in our home. I’m in love with it and I can’t wait to place my new baby girl in it, and write a full review . Look forward to that in March or April. In the meantime, check out Hushamok and get yourself and your little one an early holiday gift that you’ll receive many compliments on! – Katie

There’s nothing like a new handbag, whether it be a fancy clutch for a holiday party or a hobo bag for a casual girls’ day out. Of course buying a new handbag every time you feel so inclined (or every time you fall in love with the latest fad) could really put a damper on your budget. Then again, if you found a tote you liked on Shop Suey Boutique (definitely not hard to do), you could totally afford to buy it . . . and a fancy clutch too!

Started by Heather Gray, a self-proclaimed shopaholic (my kind of girl!) and mother of two, Shop Suey Boutique has quickly become a go-to site for your fave celebrity-inspired fashion and “looks for less” styles you see featured in so many celeb magazines. Within days of seeing the hottest new trend in Hollywood, you’ll see that same trend on Shop Suey Boutique. The site also features some of the highest quality faux leather available—it looks and feels like real leather. You won’t find anything that looks super cheap or plastic in this boutique!

But enough background; let’s get into the handbags! Shop Suey Boutique sent me the Maureen satchel in gray to review on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish. This faux leather handbag features a woven design on the front with chic-yet-sturdy hardware and a detachable shoulder strap.

It also has a good variety of pockets (two small interior storage pockets; cell and sunglasses pockets; outside zipper pocket) and the cutest interior fabric.

Though I thought the bag would be slightly bigger (silly me didn’t check the dimensions), it is the perfect size for everyday use. And I would say its cell phone and sunglasses pockets are the best out of any of my handbags. They are the perfect width and perfect depth so I don’t lose a cell phone when I bend over to pick up yet another piece of Target popcorn Livi has dropped on the ground.

The Maureen satchel’s “leather like” material really is soft and leathery-feeling. Of course it doesn’t have that leather smell, but it also doesn’t have that leather price! The dark gray color goes well with everything and I’ve already had a couple compliments on it.

The Maureen satchel from Shop Suey Boutique is a little subdued for my taste (my fault—I did pick the style and color), so I’m thinking I may need to change it out for the Meryll hobo in purple. I mean, can you blame me? It’s adorable! And for the price, why the heck not? While I’m online I may pick up the Helen bracelet to go with it!—Emily

* PROMOTION! Shop Suey Boutique is offering Daily Dish readers 20% off their purchase! Simply enter code cafe20 at checkout.

(Think of all the holiday shopping you could do . . . for you!)

I’m sure not many of us Moms are dying to sleep on our child’s crib mattress. I was with the majority of you, definitely not eager to sleep on Holly’s mattress, until the Coco Mat from Natural Mat arrived in the mail. After feel how cushy it was, I decided that I would happily spend a night on it. Although I didn’t, I still stand by that. The mattress feel so soft, yet supportive, and cozy!

As you may have guessed from the name, Natural Mat creates all organic mattresses and they mean it. Everything is 100% organic from the packaging to product. My daughter sleeps for 14-15 hours a day. That’s a lot of time! I love that her little face is laying against something organic and completely safe for all those hours. My only angst against this mattress is the cost. I totally understand why it costs so much because it’s handmade in England and made from only the best materials. I just wish it were more affordable. When I consider all the time that goes into making one mattress, the price does seem quite reasonable to me.

A couple of my favorite things about the Coco Mat are the fact that it has no springs and the removable, washable cover. Yes, no springs. I didn’t realize the springs in our first crib mattress (high-end, non-organic) were so easy to feel until the Coco Mat arrived. The removable covering is so ideal. Leaks happen. Everything happens. And the Coco Mat is not the least expensive mattress on the market, so it’s awesome to have that extra protection.

Speaking of extra protection, I also reviewed Natural Mat’s mattress protector. I was a little hesitant at first because it doesn’t fit the way a fitted sheet does, enclosing all of the mat. It’s more of a pad with elastics that loop around each corner. But I’m a believer now. It hasn’t come off despite many sheet changes and it sits flat. It’s soft and breathable. And it makes sense. Doesn’t it seem kind of silly to cover an organic mattress with a non-organic mattress protector?

Here’s some more information about the Coco Mat:

Natural Mat mattresses are handmade in the heart of the West Country in Devonshire, England, from the finest natural and organic raw materials.  COCO MAT, The most breathable and organic crib mattress is filled with organic coir from the only organic coir plantation in the world.  Coir is made from coconut fibers, which are coated in natural latex to make a supportive and breathable fibrous layer.  The coir is wrapped with soft lambswool which acts as an excellent thermal insulator, ensuring the mattress is cozy in winter and cool in summer.  The lambs wool is bathed in a mixture made from the extracts of lemon, lavender and eucalyptus making it completely anti-dust mite as well as maintaining the excellent thermal properties of wool. The mattress is covered in an unbleached cotton herringbone cover, which is removable and machine washable.  For more information visit www.naturalmatusa.com.

Whether you have a child that has allergies or a child that has none, I highly recommend this mattress. I wish I had Holly sleeping on this mattress from birth! Oh and prepare to become a bit of a mattress snob when you purchase a mattress from Natural Mat. You’ll never be able to go back to a plastic-covered, spring-feelable crib mattress again! – Katie

***Giveaway! Natural Mat is giving away an Organic Mattress Pad + Sheet and a set of Blanket Baby Music CDs to one lucky winner! A $180 value!!***

Here’s how to enter. Both of these are mandatory to enter. Please leave one comment stating you have done both. Once you have done both you may do any of the bonus entries:

1. “Like” Natural Mat on Facebook.


2. “Like” Baby Blanket Music on Facebook.

Bonus entries. Each is worth one. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

1. Follow Natural Mat on Twitter.


2. Blog about this review and giveaway. Leave a link to your post in your comment.


3. Tweet the following (leave a link to your tweet in your comment): @BoutiqueCafe @NaturalMatusa Review + Giveaway ($180 value!) http://bit.ly/9M8a9s

Giveaway closes on November 21, 2010 at midnight. The winner will be picked at random and contacted via email. She will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Congratulations Rajee! You’re the winner!

Shop at Kinderbliss.com. I’m especially loving the layered corduroy dress, the bird dress, and the pink dupioni dress is to die for! Happy Shopping my friends! – Katie

My first two girls were never much for the princess thing. They preferred play clothes, sandboxes, dirt and worms. And they had a mom who wasn’t much into supporting a princess habit, so it worked out rather well. But this last of my three girls is a bit different. She loves pink, wears dresses and dances around the house singing as she goes. I might have a princess on my hands!

When I heard Simon & Schuster wanted a review of the Princess Party Cookbook: Over 100 Delicious Recipes and Fun Ideas by Annabel Karmel, I couldn’t wait to check it out. I thought it might come in handy for those future birthday parties. Written by a children’s food expert and bestselling author, the book claims “deliciously simple recipes” perfect for a “Fairytale Feast, a Movie Star Sleepover, an Easter egg hunt, or a Christmas Wonderland.”

The book arrived and I immediately browsed through it. And then I quickly realized these were serious recipes for serious princess parties. Most of them looked almost too fancy for most kids, but what do I know? Mine love Kraft mac and cheese and corn dogs. I will say all used fresh, tasty ingredients, but a lot of ingredients I don’t keep on hand. The Princess Party Cookbook might be a little too fancy for me, but we’ll do just about anything, even make Thyme, Garlic, and Lemon Lamb Chops. Of course, I’d much rather make Passion Potion or hose an Ice Cream Sundae Bar!

Along with recipes, each section in the cookbook (organized by party theme) includes ideas for decorations, crafts and invitations. It really is a princess party cookbook for princesses of all ages. In fact, I may have to plan my own grownup princess party and serve Annabel Karmel’s Tropical Smoothie and Island Beach Babe Trifle for a Princess Beach Babe party!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Simon & Schuster is giving away one (1) copy of the Princess Party Cookbook! ***

We’re giving you two options to enter! You can do one or both; each one is worth one entry into our giveaway. Please leave a comment for each one you do:

•Leave a comment telling us why you’d love to win Annabel Karmel’s new book.
•Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 17, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Crystal G., the winner of the Princess Party cookbook 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 think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t a fan of the LeapFrog line of learning toys and accessories. We bought the LeapPad years ago along with the original Leapster. Since then I’ve reviewed the Zippity Learning System and Tag and Tag Junior Learning Systems and my kids are still enjoying “reading” books with those nifty handheld devices.

When I heard about LeapFrog’s new Leapster Explorer, I jumped at the chance to review one…in pink, of course. We already had a green Leapster for George, so it was only fair Livi had one to call her own as well! (Green Leapster Explorer pictured below.)

Before I tell you how much both my kids love our new Leapster Explorer (and play it all the time and beg me to “buy” more shampoo for their dogs and fight over whose turn it is to play), here are a few details about this new LeapFrog learning tool:

• LeapFrog’s most powerful gameplay yet; includes Flash and 3D graphics and the biggest, brightest touch-screen.


• Children can create a personal on-board pet, take it with them into LeapWorld and back again onto Leapster Explorer, earning treats and accessories for their pet along the way.


• Auto-leveling gameplay; the system stores information about a child’s progress and adjusts game and challenges so kids can learn at their own pace.


• Variety of experiences (literacy skill-building, phonics, mathematics, music, animals and geographical landscapes to name a few).


• For children ages 4 to 9.

That’s a lot of good stuff in one little handheld device! And that good stuff has kept my kids, especially Livi (only three but super mature for her age) occupied for hours on end.

Wait, I don’t let them play the Leapster Explorer for hours, promise. But with only three games (Penguins of Madagascar, Disney Princesses and Toy Story), it’s pretty impressive they have yet to tire of it. Like I mentioned before, Livi is constantly asking for more shampoo, which I can buy on LeapWorld with tokens she’s earned playing the games.

At less than $60, Leapster Explorer is a fabulous holiday gift, especially if you want to keep the kids entertained while you take that much needed Christmas Day nap!—Emily

Best Bottom cloth diapers are the most unique cloth diapers I’ve tried so far. This diapering method was created by Nikki, owner of Nikki’s Diapers. So she knows a whole lot about cloth diapering! Best Bottoms diapering system is a really clever idea and very simple. You have a shell and an insert that snaps into the shell. The insert sits right against baby’s skin. The idea is to use a shell 2-3 times and just change the insert. What are the pros of this system? The diaper is trim, fast drying, absorbent and inexpensive. The shell is adjustable and the inserts come in three different sizes. Using this method also means less laundry. And we cloth diapering Moms all know how much laundry comes with cloth diapers!

I like that the shell is water-proof, something really important to me in a cloth diaper. I also like the leg gussets and the diaper really is quite trim. I felt like I was touching the soiled inserts more than I would otherwise, unless I was changing my daughter’s diaper right by our wet bag and I’m never right by our wet bag. It felt less convenient for me because of the way I have my diapering system set up. One area that I feel like these diapers are lacking is the selection of colors. Overall these are a great diaper, however I think I prefer my pocket diapers more. The diapers are so inexpensive that they’re for sure worth try. They may be perfect for you and your child! – Katie

***GIVEAWAY! You could win a Best Bottom cover and 3 inserts from Nicki’s Diapers!***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many as you’d like (once per each specified entry). Each is worth one entry to our giveaway. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

1. Follow Nicki’s Diapers blog.


2. “Like” Nicki’s Diapers on Facebook.


3. Follow Nicki’s Diapers on Twitter.

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 14, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations Rachel N! You’re the lucky winner!

If you’re going to rescue an animal, you might as well do it in style—sporting a super nifty tee from iRescueRover. The company designs graphic tees for men, women and children along with a line of doggy tees, totes and even cute dog walking yoga pants. And it’s this awesome collection that helps save the lives of animals.

A little bit about iRescueRover:

We provide fabulous and hip graphic tees along with other selective, animal-themed items, while simultaneously generating support for needy animals. We value contributing to the world economy and we adore bringing people together to do good deeds in the world. ... We are dedicated to rescuing dogs and other animals; to loving and caring for them, to providing food, medical care and emergency assistance, to promoting spay and neuter for dogs and cats, to promoting adoption, and to educating people to help in these efforts.

Of course, Olivia’s Lace Wing Dainty tee was super cute too. I did have to play up the critter a bit; she wasn’t sold on the non-dragonfly (or non-butterfly) creature. But she did look pretty dainty wearing it!

I can speak from personal experience when I say George’s Fuerte tee is a high-quality, super soft tee. He’s worn it a TON and I’ve washed it a TON. That shirt is still as good as new, if not softer than new. It’s holding up extremely well considering what a five-year-old can do to a shirt.

Though $32 might be more than you’d typically pay for a children’s tee, keep in mind your purchase is actually helping save the lives of animals. And that tee is going to last through more than one child, even if he is a boy! I may not stock up on iRescueRover tees, but I would definitely consider buying one for each of my kids and even for myself. I love supporting a worthy cause!

With the holidays around a very close corner, why not put a Fuerte tee for your little guy—or your little dog—under the tree? Or heck, a Tattoo Cat tee for yourself!—Emily

We LOVE DIY tutorials and crafts and will be hosting more of them over the coming weeks as the holidays approach. If you have a tutorial you’d like featured on Boutique Cafe please contact us with your idea!

In the meantime, here’s a rehash of some great tutorials that will set your heart aflutter, and bring on the creativity. – Daria

Fabric Wall Art Tutorial – from Brassy Apple
Brassy Banner Tutorial
Make Fabric Candy Dishes
Gorgeous Tulle Garland Tutorial – Lisa Carroccio
Beautiful Bow Making – Lisa “The Diva”
Scents of the Season – Yummy Scents for your home during the holidays
Beautiful Gift Wrapping Techniques and Tips – Lisa Carroccio
End of the School Year Teacher’s Gifts – Daria Muirhead
DIY Camera Strap Tutorial – Priddy Creations
Valentine ideas – Say I Love You DIY Style – Kim of You Can Make This
All the Rage Bib Necklace - Carla the Scientific Seamstress
DIY Christmas Crackers
DIY Wheat Sack Bags – Brassy Apple (formerly Creative Outlet)

So Pregnancy isn’t quite my thing. With my first baby, I had a lot of pain as my stomach detested stretching. With my second (currently 25 weeks), I’ve had less stretching pain, but more contractions (totally normal for me), and a lot of discomfort just going for walks. Add to that, the fact that I have a 15 month old daughter who requires lifting and cuddling and I knew I had to get something to help me out with this pregnancy!

I was so glad to find Blanqi Bodystylers. And even happier, when at just 15 weeks, mine arrived in the mail. For that first little while, it was nicely slimming. Nowadays, it still helps hold everything in (I’m hoping this keeps my abs somewhat strong), but it also lifts a bit. I especially appreciate it on housework days, or days when I have lots of errands to run or lots of groceries to lift. It’s been a BIG lifesaver. When I take it off at night, I kind of feel like my belly drops an inch or two!

Another thing I really appreciate is, not only is it not bulky, but it also smooths out any lumps and bumps that I find happen more frequently when pregnant. Cut-up love handles? Gone. It’s awesome! Oh, and you can still wear your favourite bra with it. Although, just like like Blanqi recommends, I also recommend an underwire bra with this one. One time, I was wearing a non-underwire bra and the bodystyler crept up and awkwardly cut my chest in half. Not so flattering!

The bodystyler comes in 2 lengths and 2 colours – pale nude (that’s what I got!) and black. If you’re pregnant, you need this! It IS an essential! – Katie

***Giveaway! Blanqi is giving away a bodystyler to one lucky reader!***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you like. Each is worth one entry in our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

• Visit Blanqi and tell me what your favourite perk to the bodystyler is.


• Follow Blanqi on Twitter.


• “Like” Blanqi on Facebook.

We’ll draw the winner randomly and contact her via email. Deadline to enter is November 10, 2010. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to Bao! You’re the lucky winner!