I really shouldn’t be surprised. We loved Harley’s The Best Candy in the Whole World CD. (You can read my review of that CD here.) And I’m not a big fan of “books on tape,” but Harley has made me a believer.

We were sent a copy of Harley’s High Dive but had yet to listen to it. I wasn’t sure if my kids would sit through 12-minute and even 20+-minute stories, but they totally did. In fact, they wanted to sit in the car when we  pulled into the garage just so they could finish hearing the end of “Field Trip.”

Entertainment Weekly has called Harley “the Mark Twain of contemporary children’s music,” and I believe that to be true. His “High Dive” had us all laughing and giggling through the entire story and a certain line about a certain goat in “Field Trip” had Nathan chuckling long after Harley had moved on with his story.

Comments heard from the back seat:

“That is the awesomest!” ~ George

“No, that is super fun!” ~ Olivia

“My cheeks hurt from smiling so much!” ~ Lauren

My cheeks totally hurt—I was smiling for the 15-minute drive to and from the school event. We finished up the CD the next day and George asked to play it again from the very beginning. Sadly, we had just pulled into the garage and I’m unsure of the van’s battery life. We’ll just have to go on another family drive!

Bill Harley’s High Dive and Other Things That Could Have Happened is available starting February 14th. You can read more about it here and check out Bill Harley’s on Facebook too.

You know. Kind of like this:

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And now you can provide your daughter with her own fun and productive quiet time!

Choose Friendship Co. is giving away one (1) winner’s choice of either My Friendship Bracelet Maker or My Ribbon Barrette Maker!

Additional entries: 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:
• “Like” My Ribbon Barrette Maker on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
• “Like” Boutique Cafe on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
• Mention this giveaway on Twitter (with @BoutiqueCafe in the tweet) and leave a comment with the URL.
• Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did so.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 3rd (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Believe you me, this is about as far from a geeky technologically savvy review of the ZAGGfolio for iPad 2 as you can get. Not only did the video file of the final—and best—take go all corrupt and shut down my computer, I had to record the review in my bedroom for two reasons:

• It was the furthest removed from the kids who were watching Mulan on full volume in the family room. (They were also fighting about something but I chose to ignore them as usual.)


• My bedroom had more light than the office because Nathan had Scotch taped the light switch in the “off” position. Apparently it was powering his hard drive and if we flipped it, Armageddon would ensue.

Trust me, you don’t want to mess with the light switch when it’s controlling something in his half of the office. Been there; done that; barely survived.

It’s all quite sad because this beautiful red beauty…

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...and its accompanying wireless keyboard…
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...should get a shout-out equal to their awesomeoness.

If I had it my way, my video review would look something like this (except those would be my hands and the fingernails would be painted in OPI’s “Yodel Me on My Cell”):







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Instead of a marketing team and a professional studio, I had a 14-year-old videographer, a badly lit bedroom (but not so badly lit as the office in which I’m currently straining to see the keyboard) and not nearly enough caffeine and chocolate.

You’ll also notice I could’ve used a bit more practice sliding the ZAGG wireless Bluetooth keyboard into the ZAGGfolio case. I find it easier to leave it in the case—just slip in the iPad 2 and go—so I rarely remove it…except for the occasional video review. Madison got it right on the first try; obviously I have issues. It truly IS simple to slide it in and out of the case no matter how I make it look on the video.

Again, not enough practice (and not enough caffeine).

Also, I’m an idiot.

Speaking of my video review of the ZAGGfolio for iPad 2, here it is in all its non-scripted glory. Hopefully you can see past me and catch how cool this case really is. Because it’s really, really, REALLY cool.

Yeah, good luck with that.







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Yep, I said “criminey.” I was channeling my grandfather. Sadly he knows even less than I do about sliding a wireless keyboard into the case.

And I just realized the link at the end of the review is wrong. Let’s hope those watching the video review over on YouTube are smart enough to search my site once they that “404: Page Not Found” error pops up. sigh

You can check out the ZAGGfolio for iPad 2 keyboard case and all its colorful options on ZAGG.com. You’ll also find all those super techy specs I failed to mention in my review.

At $99, which includes the wireless Bluetooth iPad 2 keyboard, it’s a steal.

Just don’t steal mine. After the night I’ve had, I will hunt you down and make you watch Mulan with my kids.

P.S. I’ve checked out “real” reviews on the ZAGGfolio and it’s received some seriously high marks including quite a few “Best of” product awards.

P.P.S. Buy one. Your iPad 2 will thank you.

P.P.P.S. Couldn’t resist including this super short gag reel. Enjoy. (I promise I won’t be doing any more video tech reviews any time soon.)







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Disclaimer: I received the ZAGGfolio in exchange for this review. All opinions, thoughts, videos and their accompanying subtitles are mine. I totally claim ownership of it all (except for the official ZAGG video, of course).

What I love about Girl’s World is how Jennifer has designed patterns for every aspect of a girls world – fashion, accessories, decor…it’s all in here! Published by Chronicle Books, it’s a gorgeous feast for the eyes and is guaranteed to get those creative juices flowing just by cracking the spine. All patterns are enclosed and ready to go, inside the inner front cover pocket. The rest is an indulgent glimpse into the beautiful world of a little girl, and how you can recreate that in your own homes.

Now to Valentine’s Day – I would love to suggest a few projects that would be great bets to create for Cupid Day.

Sophie Glittered Apron

This simple tulle apron, would make a darling project for your little girl’s Valentine’s Day. Surprise her by creating this tulle apron with glitter ribbon. Then have her wear it over a sweet solid dress, the apron will totally jazz it up and look amazing! Don’t forget that you can always embellish with a simple heart pocket for a cute Valentine’s effect.

Gigi Ruffled Pillow
Check out the Gigi ruffled pillow! Isn’t it gorgeous as a throw pillow for a bed, or as an accent pillow? Perfect for the little girl who loves to cuddle up on her bed and tell you about the cute little boy she likes at school.

Valentine’s Day Banner
Project No.21 in the book is a Happy Birthday banner, but this project is so versatile you can easily work your magic and create a Valentine’s Day banner in a snap. Using pre-made felt letters you can mix it up and create a banner for any occasion or any name in your family!

Chloe Paper Doll Overnight Bag
This overnight sack is such a sweet way to say I love You to your little girl. If slumber parties are on the horizon, this would be a darling unique present that she can take along and know how much you love her. So sweet!

There is so much more that I can’t show you in one post (memory boards, pin wheels, canopy’s and dresses), you’ll have to run out and grab a copy to cherish. You can pick one up on Amazon.com too!

*** Giveaway! Jennifer Paganelli is giving one winner a copy of her book “Girls World”!!

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:
• “Like” Sis Boom on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
• Visit Sisboom.com and leave a comment telling us what inspires you most from Jennifers collection of fabrics, patterns and books.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Post in the SisBoom Facebook group and tell them you saw the review on Boutique Cafe!

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: Feb 3rd, 2012 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Click to view the Lola Pink Collection>>

When describing Lola Pink Servane says:

“The Lola line offers us this season bold colors, beautiful floral motifs, versatile designs and lightweight fabrics. This is also a partnership with a well known shoes Designer: Bear Feet Shoes. For this collection I took my inspiration from Asia, more precisely from Japan. All our unique and trademarked patterns/graphics are taken from nature or Kawaii inspired…”

Other elements used in Lola Pink include The Kokeshi dolls, which are wooden dolls from Japan. As well as the “Cuteness” aspect, which is a prominent part of the Japanese culture right now, from the noun kawaisa meaning “lovability”, “cuteness” or “adorableness”.

Express Yourself! Think Cute! Think Pink!

The Lola lineup will be rolling out in 4 collections – First on the agenda is the LOLA PINK Collection available right now on the website! Subsequent collections (ie: Lola Blue, Lola Exclusives, and Lola Essentials) will all mix’n match with each other as always, that’s one of the things Servane Barrau is known for. Be sure to watch Boutique Cafe over the coming weeks as each new collection launches, we’ll be sharing the details and offering great opportunities to WIN special pieces from this collection for your little darlings.

*** Giveaway! Servane Barrau Designs is giving one winner an adorable “Dotsy Dress” from the Lola Pink Collection!!

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:
• “Like” Servane Barrau Designs on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did. **This step is critical in order to win!

Additional entries:
• Visit ServaneBarrauDesigns.com and leave a comment telling us which item from the Lola Pink Collection is your favorite.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Post in the Servane Barrau Facebook group and tell them you saw the review on Boutique Cafe!

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: January 31st (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

We have read this book multiple times in the few days we’ve had it. George and Livi love it and it’s easy to see why. The illustrations are fun and colorful, the writing is clever (“You’re seriously not going to believe it.”) and the addition of lift-the-flap-style fun seals the deal.

The book includes 8 fun recipes perfect for feeding a hungry giant, including the popular Pizza-Sized Cookie. We’re anxious to try the Ginormous Blueberry Muffin. (Perhaps that will be our Christmas morning treat!)

I love this Q & A with the author. If you’re still wondering if you should buy How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant, this will help you place it in your shopping cart.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the story?
A: Well…I would have to say my kids. They were six when I wrote this story…the age of the priceless questions. You know what I’m talking about…do your toes ever stop growing? Why do chickens have wings if they don’t fly? I am sure that there was some Saturday morning that Declan (Oscar in the book) asked me how much food a giant would eat.
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Q: How can parents use Hungry Giant to talk to their children about the importance of charity?
A: The story is about a little boy helping to feed a lonely, hungry giant he finds sitting in his backyard. Oscar has a big heart and so does his mother…and at no point are they scared by the giant’s size. I used this story and Oscar’s instinct to help to talk to my kids about the opportunities they have in their day to help those around them. I also talked to them about thinking a little bigger…yes, you can help the boy in your class pour his milk AND you can help a boy you have never met by donating a can of food. If you are lucky enough to have what you need then you have a responsibility to help those that don’t.
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Q: In what ways can families incorporate philanthropy into their {holiday} traditions?
A: Take a moment to talk to your children about the issue of hunger, take a moment to teach your children to be grateful for the food in front of them and the family around them. If you are lucky enough to have what you need then you have a responsibility to help those that don’t. You could even have your children start their own food drive. Little kids LOVE looking through cabinets and finding things to donate. If they feel a part of it and like what they are doing is making a difference they will experience the joy of helping others.

GUBS was definitely a game for 10 and up. It had a lot of different types of cards, and we had to refer to the guide quite a bit throughout the game. I’m not sure we’ll ever have everything memorized, but once we got the hang of it, we enjoyed the strategy and scheming. It’s definitely hard keeping those little GUBS safe!

As for City Square Off, this was by FAR our most favorite game…probably are most favorite game of Gamewright’s to date. Even George, our six-year-old, loved it! Granted, he didn’t quite of the strategic forethought as the older kids, but he totally understood how to play. Think of it as Tetris meets urban planning. We played this one constantly over Thanksgiving break. It’s definitely a must-have for the kids.

Both games are award-winning (as usual for Gamewright) and both are extremely fun to play. And both need to be under your Christmas tree this year. (At least make sure City Square Off is!)—Emily

We make inclusion easy, affordable and fun for small business owners! After all, that’s what we love more than anything at Boutique Cafe, helping businesses get noticed and doing so shouldn’t cost a fortune. We’re here to help and we love supporting you.

Let’s make it an outstanding year once again! – Daria

We’ve lived in our home for over three years and I still have blank walls. With this home I’ve been a bit pickier about how I decorate, choosing pieces that have meaning or make me happy. (Don’t worry…there are pictures of the kids here and there.)

When A Vintage Poster asked if I would be interested in reviewing a couple of their posters, I checked out their website before replying. I wanted to make sure their collection had something I would want in our home. Funny thing is, I found a few things. The simple designs and beautiful colors were perfect and I had a hard time narrowing down my choices…such a hard time, in fact, they were nice enough to send me two for review: Star Struck and Bookworm.

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Star Struck is the perfect fit for our basement home theater and Bookworm is going to look just right next to our large black bookshelf in the office!

I was going to wait to write the review until I’d found the perfect frames but again, I am picky and it would’ve taken me way too long. With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to spread the word about A Vintage Poster because they have a poster for everyone on your list, including yourself.

Here are a couple of my other favorites:

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Along with illustrated and quotable posters, A Vintage Poster offers custom designs. You can put your children’s names, family name, child’s name with birth info (birth date, weight, etc.) or whatever your heart desires (as long as it fits on the poster).

And fit it should because size isn’t problem. They offer 8×10 ($12), 11×14 ($14) and 18×24 ($28) sizes (pricing is only a titch more for custom designs). With those sizes, the variety of colors and the amount of designs, the possibilities are pretty much endless!

Just think what a great gift this would be this holiday season! You’d definitely be the favorite if you aren’t already!

*** Giveaway! A Vintage Poster is giving one winner her choice of three (3) posters in 8×10- or 11×14-inch size! ***

•   Visit AVintagePoster.com and leave a comment telling us which poster is your favorite.
•   “Like” A Vintage Poster on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•   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 23, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Chelsea Baby has the answer to cute feet couture, with their adorable high end baby booties. This is an eco-friendly line of luxury mini footwear sized 0-6 months and 6-12 months. Eco-friendly that is, because of the use of Sensuede, a beautiful stain resistant material that is “100 per cent green in the milling process”.

I personally had the delight of receiving a pair of their “Bucky” shoes pictured above. They came beautifully packaged in a clear plastic box perfect for gifting right away, but that’s not all…not by a long shot. The Chelsea Baby shoes are incredibly plush and soft, featuring cotton fabric on the toe and with a unique snap on bouquet for girls and a snap on bow tie for boys.

At Chelsea Baby the styling of each tiny shoe is an irresistible indulgence! You can follow the lady who started it all, Chelsea Geenen herself on Twitter to learn about promotions, deals and the latest from this fab entrepreneur.

For your next baby shower, wow your new Mommy friend with luxury and style for the tiniest of toes. – Daria

PROMOTION
Chelsea Baby currently is running a 20% off promotion on their website for a limited time. Visit Chelsea Baby and click on the “DEAL” button at the side of their page – then share the promo on Facebook for your 20% off code. Sweet Deal!!

I’ve been intrigued by the SodaStream home soda system ever since I first heard my sister-in-law rave about it, but I wondered if it really was worth the investment in the system, bottles and flavorings. Yes, it’s more environmentally friendly than cans, but if that’s it’s only selling point, I’m not sold. (Sorry, it’s true.) It would have to make really good soda—and a lot of it at a reasonable price—for me to place one on my kitchen counter.

Guess what? I now totally have one on my kitchen counter and we absolutely LOVE it!

SodaStream sent us their Genesis Soda Starter Kit plus a selection of their flavorings to see if they could win us over…and win us they did. Here’s a video of us giving our SodaStream Genesis a test run. Yes, it’s about 10 minutes long but every minute is worth it because you’ll see:

• Me trying to figure out how to put the thing together.


• Me being a smarta** to Nathan.


• Madison learning how NOT to shake a SodaStream liter bottle to mix the flavoring.


• Madison and I learning just what the “buzz” sounds like when pressing the button.


• Me trying to figure out how to open the single serving packet of root beer flavoring.


• George equating his tasting the root beer to “living in heaven” or some such craziness.

The video had me laughing out loud when I watched it (and wondering why Nathan didn’t tell me my shirt was all tucked up in back). He’s never going to be a professional videographer at this rate!

Since our first test run, we’ve sampled quite a few flavors from the variety pack and enjoyed every one. I have yet to give the diet cola flavor a taste test, but Diet Coke is a hard habit to break. Of course the fact that SodaStream diet flavors don’t have aspartame helps. (They use Splenda.)

SodaStream offers 30 regular, diet and caffeine-free flavors. Oh, and their regular flavors contain no high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The lack of HFCS and aspartame makes me feel better about giving my kids diet soda for sure. Other benefits? No heavy cans or large 2-liter bottles to store in my fridge. (That means more room for string cheese, Slim Fast and yogurt.) This image pretty much says it all:

Ryders has been around since 1986 when Brent Martin, on his way to becoming the first Canadian Mountain Bike Champion, wanted a pair of high-performance sunglasses at a budget-friendly price. Ryders Eyewear was the result, and Brent’s been making stylish, sporty, sport-friendly eyewear ever since.

We make performance glasses for human powered activities that get your heart racing. Fun stuff like mountain biking, trail running, hiking, road cycling. If you want to wear your Ryders for other heart pumping activities like rollerblading with your pals, streaking the quad or naked bike riding – please be our guests (and send photos!)

Making sunglasses is not sending rockets to the moon. What we do is keep it simple, get out of the way of the sunglasses and let them do their job. We make great sunglasses at a great price so that our customers can get outside and perform at their best.

With shatterproof, polarized lenses to reduce glare plus UV protection and a scratch-resistant coating combined with a thermoplastic frame making them durable, flexible and light, you can see why I love these sunglasses for the pool. And the 11-hour car ride. (Flying objects are not unheard of somewhere between the Nevada and California state lines.)

I’ve already mentioned one of my two biggest reasons for loving these glasses (they’re super lightweight). The other reason is the superior coverage. The lenses on the Solace sunglasses are nice and big without being too big. There’s no errant sunlight making it’s way into my eyeballs; my entire view is polarized and shaded and I love it!

Ryders Eyewear has an awesome selection of women’s sunglasses, from the Drill and Nitrous to the more casual Duchess and Fray designs. Love them all!

As for price, they are right on target with Brent’s vision to design high-performance, stylish, durable sunglasses at a reasonable price. The Solace sunglasses are under $70—a great price for all the benefits this pair offers. You’ll find styles for under $40 all the way up to just under $90. Can’t beat that!

Now if Ryders Eyewear could cut out as much noise as they do glare, the 11-hour drive would be even less painful!—Emily

It’s a long way from Long Beach, California to Boulder, Colorado… or is it? Fresh Produce first sprouted in 1984 in Long Beach, selling silk-screened t-shirts in bright graphics and custom jewelry at the ‘84 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the parking lot across the street from the coliseum. The concept then is the same as now – to bring the emotions, the colors, the sensations, the leisure of beach life to everyday life through fashion.

Known and loved by women ages 6 months to 60-plus for lush colors, year-round sensibility, simply inspired design and coastal comfort, Fresh Produce continues to delight customers around the globe.

Apparently I didn’t sport the tunic quite right. I tied it rather than letting it the ties hang loose and I have to admit, I like the more casual look better. Here’s a photo from the site:

And here’s my take on it:

The Swing Capri was super soft and super comfortable. It could be due to the 92% Rayon, 8% Lycra fabric or the nice, wide leg. Or both. Whatever it is, it works and makes for the most comfortable pair of pants you could own. The Rio Crescent Moon Tunic is also comfortable but not as “cool” as I thought it would be. Though it’s 100% cotton and on the thinner side, I still got a little toasty in it, but it would make for a great transitional shirt for summer to fall or spring to summer. And it is flowy and airy, though I think I prefer the more bright, “beachy” colors better like seaglass and sunrise.

Some of my other faves from the site:

Impromptu Dress

Girl’s Koi Pond Jersey Knit Dress

Coastal Wrap Cardigan

First, a bit about Wolverine:

The footwear, apparel and gear reflects the values of the craftsmen whose pride in their work has made Wolverine the gold standard for comfort, quality and performance. Wolverine products are among the finest to be found anywhere in the world, with advanced technologies that add unparalleled safety, durability, and especially comfort. Wolverine will handle the toughest days and keep coming back for more. They are RELENTLESS BY NATURE.

Then I noticed this diagram on the inside of the lid:

And found this cute little dial under the sock liner:

So apparently these hiking shoes are awesome inside and out. They have this customized comfort system with four settings: I for enhanced inner support; O for increased outer support; F for firming things up; and C for added cushion. You remove the liner, choose your setting, set both disks the same and replace the liner. How great is that?

Question is, could these shoes hold up to a 13-year-old at a week-long camp for girls? And an 11-year-old who knows how to beat up a pair of shoes? I gave one pair to Madison and one to Lauren so they could test drive the Wolverines. Here’s what they had to say.

Madison
“Hi everybody! This is Madison. My mom asked me to write a review on the shoes Wolverine. I took them to Oakcrest {a five-day camp for girls} and used them for hiking. They were SUPER comfy and didn’t give me blisters on the first time I wore them! I love the design on the shoe. I had to use them on a three and a half hour hike and my feet didn’t hurt one bit. I heard people complaining about their feet, but I didn’t! They were even good in the mud and rain. When we were hiking down, lots of people were slipping. I didn’t fall because of the great traction on the bottom of the sole. These shoes were the best!”

Lauren
“Hey people! This is Lauren and I am writing a review on the shoes I used. The first time I used them I walked to and back from the school and my feet didn’t hurt only my legs did. The second time I used them was when we went on the alpine slide and while on that I slipped! {Clarification: The shoes had nothing to do with her flipping her sled. She was going way too fast around a turn. The end result? Fiberglass burns and a gash on her knee that need over 11 stitches!} The shoes looked great with blood-red inside and little dots only on the right shoe! Just kidding. They were my favorite tennis shoes and still are and the red came right out”

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Yes, I totally washed them in the washing machine in cold water on gentle cycle and then air dried them. I hesitated to do so due to the leather but she had really bloodied up the inside of the one shoe. They washed up perfectly and are good as new! I was super impressed! Both girls raved about how comfortable they were. I’m kinda sad I gave both pairs away. Dang.

Wolverine shoes are not super cheap, but if I were an avid hiker or outdoorswoman, I would make the investment. These babies survived camp with nary a blister; a trip down the Alpine slide before rolling around in fiberglass, rocks and dirt; and being washed in the washing machine. If they can survive all that, they will definitely last years and years. And years!—Emily

One thing I don’t have to locate is the Coghlan’s Bug-Eye Headlight my kids received so we could review it for the Daily Dish. I always know where it is: either on George’s or Livi’s head or on the kitchen desk when not on George’s or Livi’s head.

The kids LOVED this headlamp the minute they put it on…which was the minute I opened the package.

The Bug-Eye Headlight is compact, lightweight and designed just for kids. Powered by a bright white LED – that never needs replacing. Comfortable elastic head strap. Perfect for kids who love the outdoors!

I’m thinking we’ll be packing it for our trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa in August because there’s always some serious backyard camping when we go! I’ll probably need a second one so I don’t have to keep an eye on the timer as George and Livi share. (At less than $9, it’s a no-brainer!) I like to limit the number of battles and they’ve had a couple over Coghlan’s Bug-Eye Headlight. Can’t blame them!—Emily

When I was sent Pearl Izumi’s women’s Fly Top from their P.R.O. line, I was all over giving this baby a test drive—or ride.

The top features Pearl Izumi’s In-R-Cool fabric technology “that cools the body for optimal comfort.” The fabric also:

• Provides optimal moisture transfer with a “superior hand feel” (yay for super lightweight, super soft fabric!)


• Flatlock seams (yay for no chafing!)


• Reflective elements for low-light visibility (yay for not getting hit!)


• Sublimated graphics (yay for something that sounds super cool!)

Yes, it’s part of their running collection, but I’m way okay with mixing and matching! Can you tell how lightweight and breathable this fabric is? Just look at it lying on the table—it’s nearly paper thin (or at least cardstock thin)!

You can even see my fingers (and ring) through the fabric:

Because of the everlasting winter here in Utah, I didn’t get to try the Fly Top until the Goldillocks ride in May. But it was the perfect weather—and event—to do so. It was a 42-miler that started out when the weather was still a bit nippy but ended up in the pleasant 70s. Though I survived my first long ride, Pear Izumi’s Fly Top did more than survived; it performed beautifully! It was almost like wearing nothing at all, which is nice if you’re into that sort of thing.

Unlike wearing nothing, the Fly Top does provide you with sun protection. The body has a UPF of 40+ and the mesh a UPF of 30+. I just wish I’d had sunscreen with 50+ between the end of the cap sleeves and the top of my arm warmers!

Available in black, red and white, Pear Izumi’s P.R.O. Fly Top is a must for runners and cyclists alike…especially those who only cycle (or run) in fair weather.—Emily

FlipOut, which has already won six awards including the iParenting Media Award, Parents’ Choice Gold and Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award, is geared for children ages 8 and older and can handle 2 to 5 players. The object of the game is to get at least four of the same cards in a row by switching, swapping and flipping cards (your own and those of your opponent(s)). It gets a little tricky because each card is double sided, so what you see isn’t necessarily what your opponents see, and they may take the exact card you were hoping to keep!

The game claims “easy-to-learn rules,” but I will say the first time my girls took it out to play, they gave up after only getting through half the directions. Fortunately I don’t give up that easily when it comes to board games, so we gave it one more shot, this time with me reading through the rules with them. And I will admit, it took me a couple run-throughs to understand all the different options (aka “actions”) you could do each turn and how the whole process worked. But once we got going (and reread as we played), we finally got the hang of it and had a really great time thwarting each other’s efforts to line up four of a kind.

Don’t let our little struggle with the directions make you shy away from Gamewright’s new FlipOut. It really is a fun game and I love that children and adults can play together (kind of like Dweebies!), plus it teaches children visual discrimination, strategic thinking (my favorite part) and color identification. That’s a Gamewright game for you: learning and fun all wrapped into one!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Gamewright is giving away one copy of FlipOut! ***

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 Gamewright.com and leave a comment telling us which other games you’d love to try.
•     “Like” Gamewright on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•    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: June 28, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

EA stands for Estrogenic Activity. Any chemical that either blocks or mimics the natural estrogen in the human body is an EA chemical. Chemicals like BPA and Phtalates are just a few EA chemicals that can be found in certain plastics.

When the PureBot arrived, I was drawn to its transparency.

I’d never seen a water bottle with a see-through top!

I also loved its simple, slim design. But how would it hold up in spin class? I filled it with ice water…

...and headed to the gym. The first thing I noticed was the lack of an aftertaste. No metal, no plastic, nothing but crystal clear, pure-tasting water. That was my favorite part! The PureBot also kept my water fairly cold during those 50 minutes, but it didn’t have the staying (chilling) power of my Camelbak bottles, and that was a little disappointing. I could see me using the PureBot bottle around the house, but I wouldn’t be taking it to my endurance spin class or on outdoor rides. I like my water super cold and the PureBot can’t do that for me.

But it can keep me a bit safer from those EA chemicals—and at a great price (less than $8). I’m thinking the PureBot water bottle a good option for my two oldest kids as they participate in summer camps and sports this summer. As growing girls, I’d like to keep them as far away from EA chemicals as I can!

*** GIVEAWAY! Hydrapak is giving away one PureBot water bottle! ***

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 what you’d use your PureBot water bottle for.
•   “Like” Hydrapak on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•   Follow Hydrapak 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.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: June 23rd, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

As the ColorFusion shirt altered from periwinkle to a vibrant rose it startled those I was with and caused quite a stir to those that claimed they were losing their minds. A few favorite comments received: “I swear your shirt was purple earlier.” “Is it just me or is your shirt turning into a tie-dye fabric?” “Ahh. What’s going on? Your shirt is turning Pink!”

The entire shirt switched colors almost simultaneously. When the shirt reaches 68 degrees or 20F it changes color. This cool line is also available in pint-size. Quagmire kids shirts will undoubtedly be your little tike’s favorite piece of clothing. Any child will be obsessed with the “magic” demonstrated right before their eyes. The changing of colors is really the coolest thing to observe.

I have to admit, I was so skeptical about this product. Two reasons. My first inclination of the ColorFusion shirt was cheesy and crazy “technology” that probably only works in the armpits. Wrong. So wrong! It is really the coolest article of clothing I own. Besides the real “magic” technology works everywhere. It is high fashion with a cut that is perfect in every area. The length is just right. Sleeve size is ideal and it’s not a boxy golf shirt, but a perfect tailored yet relaxed fit. It is made of soft fabric that washes well.

It’s two in one with ColorFusion. Two colors. Two purposes—fashion and fun.- Amber

Buy it online and I highly suggest checking out all their other adorable active apparel visit www.quagmirestyles.com.

This book tells the story of a lazy dog that prefers staying inside and sleeping rather than playing outside (the situation sounds oh so familiar) and exploring. Wallie’s clothes begin to be too small for him because of his lazy ways (again…another great parallel). An exercising elephant helps this lazy dog get fit. This book teaches about hydration, warming up and working out.

The book ends with suggestions and fun games that Wallie did that your child can do too. The Wallie Wiggle Wag Walks and Relay Race and Silly Shark Squats are some of the exercises that your kids will love.

The writer behind this book has credentials that make it effective exercises you know are safe and legit. Steve Ettinger, the author is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist. The illustrator, Pete Proctor is a former teacher who knows what kids like to read. His adorable illustrations of the characters make this a visually stimulating book anyone can enjoy.-Amber

This book is available online at wallieexercises.com.

****DAILY DISH GIVEWAWAY***
Go to wallieexercises.com and leave us a comment on daily dish telling us the award this book received from Mom’s Choice Awards. One random selection winner will receive an autographed book.

This cover goes onto the club and shaft easily by expanding in the right places, yet keeping its form. Easy to get on and easy to pull off make it a critical component for me because it can be a real annoyance when you need your driver and the head cover won’t come off!

Their line is a huge hit with PGA and LPGA Tour players and a novice golfer from Salt Lake City. Me. I’m not a regular on the course, nor do I have stellar form or a swing that gets noticed, but my gear gets the attention because it is colorful and expressive.

I tested the “numero uno” driver head cover from the company’s “Bling” line. It matches my eye-catching golf bag from keri bag and looks good in the bag. The cherry-red cover is embossed with the image “1” with small diamond-looking studs. It is a bit more expensive than most head covers, but the diamond-looking embellishment makes a sassy statement for a more individualistic look on the course.-Amber

Available online here.

Women, of course know exactly what classifies something to be cute. So, what makes it so cute? The pink rosebloom print on the white bag is a unique pattern designed by Keri Murschell that you typically don’t see on a golf bag, which makes me think of my golf bag as an oversized purse. It is the perfect accessory.

Rare is it to find a golf bag that you actually want to lug around. The first chance to put the bag down is usually how it goes, but with this lightweight fashionable golf bag I wanted it strapped to me all day. The padded double-strap allowed perfect balance and prevented any one shoulder stress from overuse. It was comfortable and when I did set it down the legs easily came out each time, making it a sturdy stand bag. Only a few good bags actually stand up with ease, as you grab your club. This stand feature took no effort at all.

Behind the beauty of this bag lies a durable, functional bag that integrates pockets of every size for every purpose. This good looking get up offers plenty of storage in the sleeve and zippered pockets for all my golf gear and the 8-way full-length dividers keep my clubs nicely separated.

My favorite feature is the insulated pocket to keep beverages cold. This accommodation allows me to keep myself well hydrated so that by hole 15 I’m not lagging.

If you’re a golf pro or a novice this bag is for you. Don’t you want to hear the word cute said by men? Buy the bag and see what happens on the greens.

This bag – and other bags designed by Keri for Adams Golf – are also available in sets that include the bag, matching head covers and clubs! What’s more, is they’re available at different price points depending on the budget. Adams Golf is the market leader for women’s equipment.
-Amber

Available here or at adamsgolf.com.

Thanks to Revolution Foods and their organic fruit Mashups, my kids can have a serving of fruit—and multiple fruits at that—without the washing, peeling, slicing and dicing. I know, fresh is best, but when you’re going on 5 hours of sleep a night, fresh isn’t always an option at 7am.

What are Mashups? Mashups are 100% organic fruit purees without any added sugar. They also don’t contain any trans fats, HFC or artificial ingredients. Mashups come in squeezable packs with a kid-safe, resealable cap, so they’re perfect for lunches and on-the-go snacks. Mashups are available in four flavors: Grape, Berry, Tropical and Strawberry Banana.

Revolution Foods sent us a sampling of the Mashups for the kids to try. My 13- and 11-year-olds weren’t brave enough (or cool enough) to give them a test run, but George and Livi did. Note: One of the flavors was a carrot one, which I don’t see offered on the site yet. Perhaps it will be offered soon, as these are super new! (By the way, iIt was George’s least favorite.)

Here’s what the kids thought of the Mashups. This video is one of my favorites—gotta love the honest of kids!

George actually really loved the Mashups in his oatmeal. For a few days straight he had me make him a bowl of oatmeal and then he doctored it up with the berry and strawberry banana Mashups. You could even add the Mashups to yogurt, smoothies or probably even as a substitute for oil in some recipes. You can buy them online and in select grocery stores. They’ll run you just over $1 a piece, so I’m not sure I’d use them in my kids’ daily lunches, but I would totally consider them a great option for food storage and our emergency food supply. My kids would rather eat these than reconstituted applesauce any day!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Revolution Foods is giving away a gift box of Mashups samples and a Revolution Foods t-shirt! ***

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 RevolutionFoods.com and leave a comment telling us which of their products you think your kids would like the most.
•“Like” Revolution Foods on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•Follow Revolution Foods 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.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: June 2, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

KENTWOOL Golf Socks created an enhanced cushioning system at strategic micro-stress points along the foot to maximize comfort, reduce the risk of injury and boost on-course performance. The blend of fine merino wool and high-tech fibers protects feet from chafing. All their high-tech experience with textiles (they’ve been around since 1848—it is the nation’s longest-running textile company) it would be an easy guarantee to produce a high performance pair of socks.

Now I was skeptical about its claim because I am one that gets blisters easily. Seems that my bitty size 5 foot is often overtaken by redness and blisters after extensive time in any pair of shoes I wear. So, who knew it was all in the socks? I was spending too much money replacing my shoes where I should have been replacing my socks! I had no idea specialized socks really worked, but, they do.

Don’t let the title KENTWOOL Golf Socks fool you—you don’t need to have a set of irons to wear these. In fact, I tested the low profile skinny when I was running, biking and yes, golfing. Initially I tried them on the greens and was so impressed with its wicking ability. Here in Utah, Spring has turned more like a second winter with cold rain and sleet, so of course I loved the warmth the socks offered me while playing golf, but would they be too warm without the cold air? I decided to take my test to the gym and wear my “golf” socks running. I worked out hard on the treadmill. I sweat everywhere, including my feet, yet my feet were dry at the end of the workout and there was no odor. The moisture management technology did a great job keeping my feet dry, but, they were a bit too warm for my liking. The socks did a great job wicking sweat away, controlling odor and maximizing comfort with cushioning but they are best for outdoor activities where there is a chill in the air.

KENTWOOL’s claim is accurate. Blister-free socks—they are. The days I wear these socks are the days there are no signs of irritation on my heels, toes or arches. My purple low profile skinny socks will be so worn out because I literally wear them every other day. So, my suggestion would be—stock up. I’ve experienced no loosening of the seams with its constant washing, but, stock up because your feet will thank you.-Amber

With beautiful fragrances, gorgeous colors and advanced botanical extracts, our products deliver the ultimate level of protection for super smart women who want to protect, renew and perfect their skin every day. Hissyfit products are proudly Australian made using the finest ingredients, including powerful botanical extracts. ...

Next up is the Saving Face Buffing Powder—a hit! I love a good finishing powder that keeps my skin more matte than shiny yet feels lightweight. This one totally did that. It kept my makeup looking good all day long and felt really good on my skin. Perhaps it’s due to all the bontanicals inside (aspen bark extract, green and white tea extracts, jojoba and aloe).

Last are the Clockpots, and here’s where I tell you I can’t really tell you much about them. The shades sent for review weren’t right for me, so I didn’t dare apply them. (I have a hard enough time trying to make my makeup look good!) And for me, the Clockpots were a bit overwhelming. I kept reading the directions so I’d know which shades were for which time of day, and I thought the compact a bit large. i couldn’t imagine packing that for travel OR throwing it in my handbag for makeup touch-up later in the day. Out of the three products sent, this was probably my least favorite, but perhaps someone with a bit more confidence in her makeup skills (and a much larger makeup bag) would do just fine!

Overall, I loved the creaminess and high SPF of the Saving Face Foundation (even if the color was wrong) and the effectiveness of the Saving Face Buffing Powder, but I’m still not convinced on the Hissyfit Clockpots. If any of you have tried them, let me know! I’d love to hear your take!—Emily

I’ve tried more than my fair share of products claiming to reduce the occurrence of acne and/or treat blemishes. So far I love the Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser, but as far as post-cleansing, I have yet to find a product that truly seems to work…and I’ve tried quite a few including the knock-off version of ProActiv. (Now all I have are nicely bleached towels.)

No surprise I was totally game to try La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo, a dual action acne treatment “clinically proven to treat acne as effectively as the leading prescription” with results in only 3 days and “minimum irritation.” Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Here’s why it’s supposed to be so nifty:

• Key ingredients of 5.5% micronized benzoyl peroxide acne medication (reduces inflammation while minimizing irritation) and 0.4% micro-exfoliation LHA (precise cell-by-cell exfoliation).


• Non-drying, non-comedogenic, oil-free, paraben-free.


• Dermatologist tested on all skin types, even the most sensitive. Test on mult-ethnic skin.

Crazy thing is, this little tube of Effaclar Duo holds a truly “big” and effective acne treatment. And I’m not the only one who can attest to that. I used it on my chin area where I tend to get the tiniest bumps and then on the occasional zit that would hit my cheek once a month. It smoothed and cleared in those three days. I did find twice a day was too much for my skin and it started to dry out a bit, but once a day was perfect.

The other person who loves this little tube is Madison, my 13-year-old daughter. For the past few months she’s been showing the signs of that whole puberty thing with a collection of the tiniest acne on her nose. I had her try the Effaclar Duo and within those allotted 3 days, it had cleared up in a major way. (I would have done before and after pics, but she so wasn’t going for that.) For her, two applications a day also started drying out her skin (we do live in Utah after all), but once a day has been perfect for managing it. And she couldn’t be happier!

Priced at around $35, I am here to tell you it’s totally worth it. TOTALLY. Now the only problem is figuring out whose bathroom currently has the tube of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo cream. Oh, and this go-round, no bleached towels or sheets!—Emily

Ahnu offers footwear for men and women who enjoy an active lifestyle—and, of course, some serious style too:

Whether designed for hiking on trails through the Big Sur Mountains or taking a run through Golden Gate Park, we infuse technology that keeps us centered, balanced, and ultimately comfortable for miles on end. And while our passions drive us to create great performance products, our values guide us to be responsible throughout all of our environmental and social encounters.

So if we can inspire a more balanced life that begins with getting outside, then we’re making the connections that influenced us to start this brand.

I was lucky enough to test out a pair of Ahnu Montara hiking shoes for Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish.

Once I had the correct size (definitely order a half size up), I found they fit perfectly the moment I put them on…and by perfectly, I mean no break-in time needed (i.e., no blisters). Though I didn’t get to take them hiking in the mountains due to our super long winter and super late spring (I’m talking frigid temps earlier this week), I did wear them as actively as possible at the park and around town. No blisters, no hot spots and super lightweight on the feet. Honestly, I couldn’t believe how light these hiking shoes were—and comfy to boot (pun intended).

Me taking the Montaras for a test drive. Super cute AND super comfy! I even took a quick run to the car and they felt great!

I’m thinking the comfiness is due to that Numentum™ Technology, “a neutral positioning system engineered to encourage the foot’s natural biomechanics.” It sounds all techie but it sure feels good! Though I have the Montara in Coffee Bean, I adore the Ruby Wine, a delicious red. I also love the Rockridge II and Nicasio styles.

Ahnu has already contributed more than $20,000 to the Breast Cancer Fund and expects to donate a total of $30,000 before the end of 2011. How awesome is that?

Check out Ahnu’s entire collection of Numentum™ Technology women’s footwear here. And remember, for every pair purchased, the company will donate $5 to the Breast Cancer Fund.—Emily

P.S. You can find Ahnu on Facebook and Twitter!

The eco-smart yoga mat is made from Polymer Environmental Resin. This material is safer for our health (most mats are made from PVC foam which contain harmful toxic chemicals) and the environment. This material is very durable. Non-stick and lightweight makes practicing poses a breeze. Measuring at 24” by 69” by 6 mm I tried the Burgundy/Mustard mat. It was a crowd pleaser at the gym. Receiving multiple comments from strangers about the cute design on my mat had me notice just how decorative it is and definitely a stand out in the sea of solid purple and blue mats.

The price is right at just $29.95. Makes me feel better about spending money on something that preserves our environment as well.

Now, the yoga mat is great but what I really loved was what I carried my yoga mat in—the reconstructed yoga tote. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece of art draped on your shoulder. It is so eye-catching and completely unique. No two bags are the same because the bags are constructed from old banners and tents. The waterproof material is slick. The tote is nice because you can roll your mat up, stash it and seal the bag up with the velcro clasp. The inner-zip pocket is another unexpected feature that is perfect for keys and a cell phone. Same price as the mat $29.95.

Shop green and while you’re at their website, check out Project C.A.R.E.
I like a committed company that is methodical in their approach to preserve our earth.
I also like a company that keeps yoga essentials at a minimum price. Just under $30 for each item.—Amber

First, a bit about Cyclelogical:

Cyclelogical exists to bring the best travel and bike commuter gear to the market. Our gear will get you to and from your destination, be it the office or the grocery store, with all the right equipment and just the right amount of options, no more….no less. Cyclelogical will get you there safely and totally in style! Our gear is made with the highest quality and most durable materials. We know, because we have researched them and tried them out.

Both tees had a bit of a longer length and more narrow fit, which I liked, but they did seem to run a bit small. The Bike Me tee had the softest fabric but was a titch shorter in length. The Cycling Is Off the Chain tee had a really nice length but a little less stretch. Both are washable in cold water BUT the directions say “lay flat to dry.” Guess who didn’t read that part and assumed drying them on low would work? That would be me. Though they didn’t seem to shrink too much, they did shrink just enough to make me wish I’d gone with a large rather than medium. So be sure and order one size up in those tees, especially if you’re going to forget to dry them correctly!

Madison absolutely LOVED the Bike Me tee and I loved the Off the Chain one. It makes me feel kinda cool to sport a fun, eye-catching tee that lets people know I love cycling. I’m actually considering buying the Chain Flower Hoody with its super cute design on the back!

Their men’s collection is awesome as well. My faves are Bike Power Retro and City Fixie tees. Cyclelogical also has some fun gear like their Minima and Townie Rust packs. And if you find you’re riding early in the morning or later at night, you’ll want to invest in a pack of reflective Chopspokes. No, they won’t make a cool noise like those plastic spoke beads, but they will keep you a heck of a lot safer.

Along with cool tees, Cyclelogical also has a super cool mission “to help the environment by keeping gasoline consumption down, sustaining a healthy mind and body, and keeping the world we live in safe for bicycle commuting everywhere.” I like a company that likes the environment and likes keeping me safe.

If you have a cycling family member or friend and want to give them something other than a month’s supply of energy gel or a new insulated water bottle, give them a Cyclelogical tee. They will love it and you will love being her new favorite!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Cyclelogical is giving away one tee, 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 CyclelogicalGear.com and leave a comment telling us which tee you’d choose.
•  “Like” Cyclelogical on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•  Follow Cyclelogical 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.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 20, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

When Animoto approached me about reviewing their online movie-making site, I was totally game. It looked like a lot of fun and claimed to be easy, the perfect combination. But was it easy? And was it fun? And did the end result look super cool? I’ll tell you—and show you—in just a moment. First, a bit about Animoto:

... Animoto was founded to help people better share their stories and express themselves through online media by innovating technologies in the field of video production. Using the latest in entertainment post-production technologies, Animoto is designed to bridge the gap between the high production value of film and television, and the more “amateur” feeling of most user-created videos and photo albums.

The heart of Animoto is its newly developed patent-pending Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology that thinks like an actual director and editor. It analyzes and combines user-selected images, video clips and music with the same sophisticated post-production skills and techniques that are used in television & film.

I couldn’t believe how easy it was to use Animoto’s process for creating the movie. It was so easy, my 13-year-old gave it a shot and had a movie made in just a few minutes:






Uploading images and video was a snap as was uploading my own background music. (You can select from hundreds of songs on Animoto’s site as well.) And of course having a variety of templates to choose from was a nice touch. I do wish they had more of a selection, or at least more options for non-Pro account users.

I think the only complaint I had about Animoto was only being allowed 10 seconds of video time. Trust me, the video of us in that golf cart is hilarious; I would have loved to have shown a bit more of it. The same goes for us laughing uncontrollably in the car. It also seemed the video lasted only as long as the song I chose. I was hoping the song would loop so the slides would stay up longer, but I couldn’t quite figure out if that were a possibility or not. I remade the movie a second time, choosing a longer slide length, but the final length of the movie stayed the same so obviously it didn’t matter.

With Animoto, you have three pricing options: Lite, Plus and Pro. Lite is free and allows for only a 30-second movie. Plus, which is what Animoto offered me for this review, is $5/month or $30/year and allows for full-length video. Pro, which is $39/month or $249 a year, has a lot more capability, is ad-free and lets you do HD movies. (You can read more about what each plan includes here.)

After using it just once, I would totally recommend going for the Plus. Lite just doesn’t cut it, and $30 per year isn’t much at all. Then if you love it, you could always upgrade to Pro. I’m thinking you need to at least get a Plus account immediately so you can put together a fabulous Animoto movie for Mom for Mother’s Day. It’s sure to make you the favorite!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Animoto is giving away one (1) year of its Plus service! ***

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 what your first movie/slideshow would be using Animoto’s service.
•  “Like” Animoto on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•  Follow Animoto 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.
•  Update your Facebook status with a link to this giveaway and leave a comment telling us you did so.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 4, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

I have used every type of gym bag out there. Using small totes to large duffle bags and nothing compares to this bag. The creators thought of every feature.

During my testing of the bag I really put it to use. I used it for the purpose of going to the gym, but, soon became so attached that my bag also served as a carry-on for my travels and as a book bag. This bag really got some wear with no tear.

First, I stuffed it into various size lockers to test the shape. Somehow it fit perfectly into long skinny lockers and in the wide short kind. Next, the carry-on shoulder strap that seem to hang at just the right length—not too long that the bag drags to your hips, but, not too short that you can’t carry it over your shoulder.

The fabric is this incredible material specially treated with water-repellent finish, which also is the perfect color. It is a hue that sits in the middle of vibrant and a muted shade of green. Not too loud that it screams “look at me” but bold enough to make a statement.

This bag is so well designed they thought of everything! It features an additional plastic liner at the bottom for easy cleaning. There are a plethora of pockets on the exterior and interior. There is a front patch designed specifically to hold your yoga mat, small pockets, large pockets, ring holders within the pockets, zipped pockets and soft-lined ones for gadgets, removable key fob. I’m telling you everything you need this bag has. There is even a hidden water bottle material cage on the exterior. My favorite Lug feature though is definitely the separate ventilated shoe garage. It keeps my dirty soles away from my clothes and the stench of my running shoes can air out.

Inside there is a separate tote that is perfect to hold under garments. After working out, it serves as a perfect place to stow away my sweaty apparel. With all these features you’d expect it to weigh you down, but, nope it is even lightweight!

The price at $95 may seem a little high for a gym bag, but, trust me you will spend way more buying multiple bags trying to get what you want. This is the one and only bag you should have. It is well worth the money. It is well constructed, well-designed and looks good. -Amber

Buy it here at www.luglife.com.

I love the ABC print she sent me. It’s hanging in our nursery and it’s the perfect addition. It has a fun mix of animals and letters.

When I asked Heather to tell me about herself and her company, what she responded with was awesome and motivational.

I’m a SAHM of four – three boys and one girl.  I was a visual arts major in college.  I love my family, graphic design, photography, cooking, crochet, sewing and interior design.  My shop, Lemon Dropp, came to be for a variety of reasons.  My husband is currently looking for a job, which has a been a really hard process.  Not only is Lemon Dropp a much needed creative outlet and a way to make some money, but it helps me stay focused on the positive.  It started out as me designing uplifiting prints for my own house to help us not despair about our situation, and has blossomed into my own etsy shop.  I really believe that happiness is a choice, and that no matter where you are in life, there is always a bright side, always something to be happy and excited about, and there is always hope.  I try to portray that in my prints. I try to make something tangible and beautiful that people can put in their homes that spreads that positive attitude.  I think that every home could use a happy art print or two to help us remember who we are and what we want our lives to be.  I also have a blog : www.alemondropplife.blogspot.com where I share design inspiration, lovely things I come across, ways to give service, little tidbits about my family life, and updates for my shop.

Take some time to check out Lemon Dropp. Heather’s art is so happy! – Katie

***Giveaway!!*** Heather’s giving away and 8×10 print (winner’s choice)! To enter, leave a comment telling me which print is your favourite. (Giveaway closes May 5th, 2011 at midnight. Winner will be contacted via email and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen)

***Promo!*** Get 15% off with code BC15OFF.

Congratulations to Amy! You’re the lucky winner!

That’s why when I stumbled upon Road ID and their Wrist ID bracelet, I knew I not only had to have one for myself, but I also needed to share this product with our readers, especially at the start of warmer weather. ‘Tis the season to head outside on long runs and rides and participate in sporting events like marathons and cycling races!

First I want to share a bit about the inspiration for Road ID:

The inspiration for Road ID was born in the fall of 1999. For my father, the inspiration was his concern for me as I trained for my first marathon. For me, the inspiration was a black, King Kong size pick-up truck that I nearly came face to face with on a long Saturday run.

Earlier that fall, I began training for my first marathon. My father worried about me logging all those miles and would often tell me to “be safe.” One day, he suggested that I carry an ID so that he could be notified if I had an accident while training. Of course, I dismissed that suggestion. I thought: “What could possibly happen to me while running?”

So, there I was, in a ditch, on the side of the road, having nearly been hit by the aforementioned pick-up truck. From that ditch, my father’s suggestion to carry ID started to make a tremendous amount of sense. ... A few months later, from my father’s damp basement, he and I launched Road ID. To us, Road ID has always been far more than a business. We are on a mission to save lives.

Road ID let me choose the style of bracelet I wanted, so I went with the Wrist ID Elite. I liked the sleek look with its rubberized band and watch-style buckle in a brushed nickel finish. I went with the pink (I do like pink!), entered my info including a nice, sassy, inspiring slogan, and sent off my order. Within no time at all, my new Wrist ID Elite arrived and I absolutely LOVE it!

What I don’t love is that I haven’t been able to use it yet. If you’ve watched our awesome Utah weather at all, you know we’ve had like one day of sunshine since Christmas Eve, and I don’t venture out unless it’s close to 70. (I’m a wimp like that.) So I haven’t been able to give my new Wrist ID Elite bracelet an actual test drive on the road, but I have worn it around and believe you me, it’s so comfortable and so lightweight you forget you’re even wearing it. And the peace of mind knowing I wont’ be a Jane Doe if something happens is totally priceless. (You never know…my little ones could take me hostage and cover me in duct tape and fingernail polish someday and Road ID would be the only way to identify me.)

If you’re not a sports enthusiast but have a family member or friend who is, this would make a pretty cool gift. Trust me. If Nathan had known about this product and purchased one for me, I’d think him even niftier than he already is!

Road ID now offers a Wrist ID Slim, which I might consider adding to my collection; it would also be a great option for kids! I also like their Shoe ID, which is perfect for someone who can’t handle wearing things on her wrist while active. No matter which ID you choose, choose one. You never know if it might save a life.—Emily

*** Giveaway! Road ID is giving away one Road ID bracelent, 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 RoadID.com and leave a comment telling us which product you’d choose.
•“Like” Road ID on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•Follow Road ID 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.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 26, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

For the first month of Greta’s life, she wouldn’t sleep anywhere except for in somebody’s arms and in her hushamok hammock. Which is saying something. Greta’s a high maintenance baby – a princess. To give you an example, she refused a soother until she was 6 weeks and she still refuses to take a soother half the time it’s offered (what bottle-fed baby refuses a pacifier?!). So the fact that she’d sleep for good stretches in her hammock is saying something. Very recently Greta developed reflux and I’ve found that although the hammock offers the ability to have Greta’s head elevated, it’s not quite enough for her specifically to lie awake in. To fall asleep these days, she needs to be elevated about the same way an infant car seat elevates a baby’s head (and sometimes she has to be completely upright!). Once she’s asleep, she’s good and happy to sleep in her hammock. And once she’s there I love that it keeps her head elevated slightly – she coughs less which is great!

Hushamok says their hammock is the next best thing to the womb – I agree. And so does Greta. I love how it sways when she stirs helping her to sleep a little longer. This makes me totally believe that the hammock would be perfect for restless sleepers. As the baby moves, the hammock sways or bounces slightly and that would help soothe the baby. Hushamok also says that their hammock helps to prevent flat heads. Again, I agree. The way the hammock softly conforms to baby’s head is perfect. It cause no concern for suffocation either.

Hushamok has some great, flexible options as well. There’s two different stand choices: the Okoa (which I have and love – it’s super sturdy and beautiful!) or an aluminum stand. Or you could purchase just the hammock and it comes equipped with the hardware to hang it directly from the ceiling. When your baby is ready to be a little more interactive, you can get the MySeat. I would love one! I love that it allows the baby to sit upright and off the floor. I think it’s so clever and it looks like it would be so easy to interact with baby when they’re in a MySeat.

You have to check out Hushamok! They make beautiful, eco-friendly products that parents and babies alike will love. – Katie

restoring their broken lives.

empowering them to live free.

I am a really, REALLY big fan of products that support worthy causes. That is why I’ve especially fallen in love with PUNJAMMIES, a product line that supports the International Princess Project. Did you know over 3 million women and girls work as prostitutes on the streets of India? Some are as young as six years old. SIX. YEARS. OLD.

The International Princess Project is “committed to giving women once enslaved in the sex trade the opportunity to support themselves with skill and dignity, to heal in body and spirit and to live lives of freedom.”  The organization establishes micro-enterprise sewing centers, partnering with Indian organizations who rescue women escaping from the sex trade. Inside these centers, rescued women learn to create PUNJAMMIES, drawstring pajamas sewn using beautiful Indian fabric.

I found this video on YouTube. I think you need to watch it.






Ready to purchase a pair of PUNJAMMIES? Wait until you see some of the gorgeous patterns. I was sent the RATTMA PUNJAMMIES paired with the blue fair-trade organic tee.* The first thing you notice is the gorgeous pattern and lightweight fabric. And then it hits you—these pajama bottoms are going to be the most comfortable pajama bottoms EVER. Unfortunately I didn’t get to actually wear them with Utah thinking it’s still winter and dumping inches of snow at least twice since I received them. LAME.

I did get to try out the organic black cotton tank** during a recent yoga class. Super soft and comfy, it was the perfect tank for yoga…and Pilates..and weight lifting and whatever else you’d like to do in a tank. I loved the design (I think it helped me channel my inner “ohm”), though I wish it had a bit longer length. I’m thinking I might have to get the red version so I can see if a larger size is just as comfy…you know, purely for research purposes of course.

There’s this holiday called Mother’s Day coming up in just a few weeks, and I’m thinking PUNJAMMIES would be the perfect gift, especially this pair:

You’d be supporting the International Princess Project, bringing “hope and a voice to those who have none” while making your mom (or sister or friend or yourself) feel like a princess in a gorgeous pair of pajama bottoms. The only problem will be deciding which beautiful design to buy, especially when you see the new collection! (By the way, they come in full length as well as capri.) Good luck!—Emily

***MOTHER’S DAY PROMOTION!***

The first 50 online orders will receive a FREE bracelet from 31 Bits (pictured below), a friend of PUNJAMMIES and the International Princess Project. (Like you need an extra excuse to buy PUNJAMMIES…)

* The organic cotton tees are made by Freeset, an organization similar to IPP working in Kolkata.
** The tank is made by Alternative Apparel and printed in the U.S. Even though the tee and tank are not produced in IPP’s centers, the profits go back into the program.

Binth not only sent me their darling baby book (see my past review) but they also sent me two of their “FRIENDS” prints, which are absolutely charming. Each print is screen printed with hand-mixed inks. They come framed and ready to hang (or stand), which I love since all too often I purchase prints I love, but never complete the hanging process because I forget or procrastinate buying a frame! I loved hanging my “Doe Girl” and “Dancing Bears” on my daughters’ nursery wall shortly after they arrived (see photo below). Somehow Binth has an amazing ability to tie modern with vintage and make it perfectly balanced. I love the colors that are used – “licorice black and lavender with just a touch of cream.” The prints are high quality and will surely last through the ages and become heirloom items – they’re that adorable. – Katie

***Giveaway! Binth is giving away 3 prints (winner’s choice) to once lucky BC reader! To enter, visit Binth and leave a comment telling me what your three faves are.

Additional Entries by:

Tweet about this Review and GIVEAWAY on Twitter (include @BoutiqueCafe and @Binth in your Tweet). Please come back here and post a link to your tweet as well for an extra entry.

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline April 15, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to Wendy R!

These songs were inspired by the students at Celebrate the Children School, a New Jersey school for children with alternative learning styles. Many of the students are affected by autism, Asperger’s Syndrome or related disorders. The songs can be heard as anthems for differently-abled children and their families; at the same time, I think every child will find something to relate to in this collection. I hope the songs will invited deeper understanding and appreciation of children with autism and other disorders by shedding light on just how much we all have in common. ~Brady Rymer

** Giveaway! We are giving away one (1) copy of Love Me for Who I Am! **

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 BradyRymer.com, listen to the song samples and leave a comment telling us your favorite one.
•  “Like” Brady Rymer and The Little Band Who Could on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did so.
•  “Like” Boutique Cafe on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•  Follow Boutique Cafe on Twitter and leave a comment telling us you’re our newest follower.
•  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: April 8, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

When I want to lose weight I try to enlist everyone around me to support the cause…”Do not let me eat this and this!” I demand. Well now the accountability is in the watch. The watch has my back-side. It will swiftly get my butt in gear and trim my derriere by its innovative alarm system that sets off an alarm if I exceed my targeted caloric intake.
Brilliant! Finally, I can ditch the food journal and exercise log. I can forget about strapping on a heart rate monitor and tracking my progress each day. Rather, I just put on my stylish MIO Triumph watch and it keeps track of what goes into my body and calculates if I am adequately burning enough calories each day.

So many heart rate watches are bulky and big, but, not this one. It is petite and lightweight. I love that it is the same size as a standard watch but has the capacity to do what a computer does. The watch has another interchangeable pink band that comes inside the box and is easy to switch out when you want to change the color of the band.
I recommend this wellness watch for its form and function. With smart touch you simply touch the side of the stainless steel sensor with your two fingers for an on-demand heart rate. The MIO Triumph has an innovative calorie management system and can tell the time…what else do you need/want on your wrist?!
Visit http://www.mioglobal.com/mio-triumph to order your own heart rate monitor watch. – Amber

Daily Dish readers special!
Discount: 10% off and free shipping to US and Canada
Code: DISH (has to be all caps)
Order your Weight-loss watch here

For example, check out the group’s debut video of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider Plays Piano with Fly Band”:

This is the first release in a planned series and it’s packed with instruments: piano, saxophone, trumpet, voice, flute, trombone, guitar, bass and drums. The tunes, while familiar, have a lot more funk, which helps keep kids engaged…and singing the songs long after they’re done playing.

George and Livi enjoyed the variety of songs on Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus, and I enjoyed a new take on some of the most popular children’s songs. Of course, not all the songs are old favorites. You’ll find some new favorites among the mix as well! You can check out a sampling of songs on Groove Kid Nation’s website (right-hand side of the homepage).

Super cool? Yes, because 10 percent of the wholesale price of The Wheels on the Bus is donated to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization.

Oh, and there are some pretty amazing musicians who performed on this CD. You can read the entire list here.—Emily

** Giveaway! We’re giving away one (1) copy of Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus! **

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:

•  Visit GrooveKidNation.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite song from the sampler.
•  Follow Boutique Cafe on Twitter (or tell us you already do).
•  ”Like” Boutique Cafe on Facebook (or tell us you already do).
•  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: April 4, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

First, the basics about See Kai Run’s new organic sock line (other than they come two pairs to a package):

• Certified organic cotton blend


• Smooth, seamless toes (I absolutely LOVE this feature because my little ones are picky about that dang seam on the toe. It takes us five minutes just to put socks on in the morning!)


• Non-binding cuffs (Wish I could say the same about some of my socks!)


• Pairs perfectly with See Kai Run & Smaller footwear (How awesome is that?)

Who better to review these fab socks than Olivia, a big fan of pink and polka spots? She received the Dots with Moxie set so she could review them all for you. And review them she did!






I have washed these socks in hot water (not on purpose) and though they shrunk a titch, they still fit wonderfully and are one of Olivia’s favorite pairs of socks…right up there with Fancy Nancy. See Kai Run’s organic socks have a much nicer, much sleeker fit and I can already tell they’ll hold up well to the wear and tear my kids put their clothing through (even if Mom doesn’t follow the washing instructions). What can I say? Yay for polka spots!—Emily

The great looking and functional solution to my grocery shopping needs is from a Canadian company called 4R Planet. Now really, how excited can a girl get about grocery bags? Well I’m a real believer now, as I’ve been using the 4R Planet bags for several months. They are not only a great environmental choice, but they are actually cute and stylish. I have a hard time forgetting THESE at home!

In the product line up 4R Planet has several SAVVI bags including:
The Beverage Bag $7.99
The SAVVI Produce Pac $9.99
SAVVI Sac $16.99 (replaces 2 plastic shopping bags! and comes in cute colors)
SAVVI Sacs & Pacs $19.99
SAVVI Set $49.99
and the Utterly Amazing SAVVI Tote-All for $24.99 (The handles actually Clip onto your cart so you can load it as you shop. This is a MUST SEE!! Look at the pic on the right >>)

You need not use these Savvi bags only for groceries, they have tremendous functionality. For instance the Beverage could hold six bottles, six magazines, 3 pair of shoes, hair care products, sippy cups, action-?gures, craft items and more.

Each bag is:

Washable
Has Reinforced Seams
Reusable
Convenient
and don’t forget lovely to look at

I’m so thrilled with this company and products. The service is impeccable, their products are well made and are constantly working as you use them to improve our environment. I highly recommend checking them out – try them and let me know what you think! – Daria

Tweet with them on Twitter
Follow 4R Planet on Facebook
PROMO CODE:4R Planet is offering our Boutique Cafe readers 15% off your purchases until the end of April. Use discount code “boutiquecafe2011”

Here’s a descrpition of the tote:

This fun and funky diaper tote is one that mom will want to use on her own, not just for baby.  Made from 100 percent cotton canvas, the samantha diaper tote features a custom designed, water-resistant lining, durable webbing, high quality leather accents and magnetic closure.  A zippered pocket with custom zipper pull, three extra–deep pockets, a beverage compartment and metal studs on the bottom to keep the bag clean, make the tote exceptionally functional for a variety of uses.  Other available fabric designs include: bubbles, bubbles take-two, sprout, pax and licorice.  Dimensions: 18” X 5” X 14”.

The Samantha diaper tote is a generous size, but not too big. I agree that it’s a bag Mom will esnt to use on her own, I’ve used it a lot when I don’t have my two girls with me. I love the relaxed look of the tote and so do a lot of other people – I get at least one compliment whenever I leave the house with it! Having a newborn, I still prefer a more sturdy bag with a more pronounced and flat bottomn especially since I’m carrying around bottles of formula (and seemingly everything else besides the kitchen sink), but the Samantha Tote is excellent for trips to the grocery store, etc. I keep mine stashed with diapers and wipes so I can grab it and go whenever I’d like.

Overall, I adore my Samantha Tote. It’s great for Moms who’s youngest has reached toddler age and doesn’t need as much supplies (I miss those days!), or for breastfeeding moms who may require fewer supplies. And you’ll love all the compliments your sure to receive! Head on over to Kokopax to get yours. – Katie

***Promotion! Kokopax is offering BC readers 10% off with code boutiquecafe.com2011 Enjoy!***

Dinonauts is a book (and e-book) that I received to read with my children, and let me tell you they are hooked!! I have little boys ages 8 and 9 who love a great adventure story, and the opportunity to use their imaginations. We’ve been reading Dinonauts written by Mike Pacitto and illustrated by Langdon Foss when I’m tucking Joshua and Brigs into bed each night. It’s been a huge hit with my kids, in fact they were acting out their favorite characters yesterday after school. Dinonauts is a monstrously big tale, you could call it Karma-galactic, that infuses space battles, cosmic monsters, strange creatures and a gigantic good vs. evil theme with super-heroes and super-villains. But all of the adventure and excitement that will grab your children’s attention is balanced by a story of teamwork, friendship, the value of one’s own originality, a never-say-die attitude … and good karma. All this wrapped up into a book that’s a quick read, and it’s wonderful to look at. Wonderful because of the beautiful artistry of Langdon Foss, a comic book artist who now works for DC comics. Within the book the illustrations are black and white drawings with gorgeous detail, you can even allow your children to color the pages if you wish. I asked Joshua about the drawings and if he liked them in black and white, and he said “It’s nice because I can use my own colors in my head”. What a great kid I have!

The formula is simple:
1) Dinosaurs + 2) Outer Space = 3) the ultimate recipe for techie, sci-fi kids. The kids who start the next Facebooks, Googles and Twitters … they will remember the day they read Dinonauts.

My family isn’t the only one jumping onto the ship, Dinonauts has a Facebook group of over 4,000 members plus if you’re a techie type of parent it also came out on iBooks and Kindle a few weeks ago, or if you like a hard copy book you can snag one for a great price on Amazon.

We have a feeling that Dinonauts is really going to be the next big thing, with a potential movie in the near future and the coolest characters like Rufus the albino ape they have a strong foothold in what kids these days are craving for in sci-fi literature. 3-2-1…Blast off – Daria

** Giveaway! Dinonauts is giving away one AUTOGRAPHED copy of their book to a lucky Boutique Cafe reader!!**

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:

•   Visit Dinonauts.com and leave a comment telling us what you think your kids would like most.
•   “Like” Dinonauts on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•   Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•   Update your Facebook status including a link to this giveaway.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 29, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

I was sent their flutterby chemise with a matching outfit for my new baby, Greta. Unfortunately, I’m not able to nurse Greta, but I can tell you that the chemise is really cute and soft! It’s great for nursing. Greta’s outfit is so sweet and I’m looking forward to her growing into it. I love Mom and Baby matching outfits. What a great way to encourage bonding in the middle of the night and to feel somewhat together at a time when life can be at it’s craziest.

Belabumbum has a great selection of maternity loungewear and lingerie ranging from comfortable to sexy. They also carry really pretty and delicate lingerie.

Belabumbum is a socially conscious company and support women. Here’s a little more about the company:

Belabumbum’s founders started the company to support themselves, the people who work with them, and their customers. The vision? To create collections of fun, feminine styles that accompany women through the creative  phases of their life. To accomplish this, they’ve brought together a “mafia” of smart, motivated women who build on each others’s strengths and values. As the company has grown, the need to nurture both babies and business has shaped the design of Belabumbum apparel as well as its operations. Belabumbum works with socially conscious manufacturers in South America to ensure excellent working conditions and job security. Belabumbum has also contributed to countless health and well-being related events and organizations.

Isn’t that great? Plus, Belabumbum has a green line with eco-friendly fabrics (ie bamboo and organic fruit-dyed cottons)! Check out Belabumbum’s online boutique and spice up your lingerie drawer. – Katie

***Promotion! Get 10% off with coupon code MOMBLOG. Enjoy!

The Best of Clean Eating breaks down their recipes into some pretty awesome categories:

• Quick & Easy Meals


• Budget-Priced Meals


• Five-Ingredient Meals


• Seasonal Foods


• Healthy Snacks


• Recipes for One or Two People


• Holiday Meals


• Delicious Low-Fat Desserts


• Summer BBQ

You’ll also find chapters on meal plans, cooking terms and tools and a conversion table. Among the pages are excerpts with tips on slashing your grocery bill, choosing the most flavorful ingredients, herb pairings and even a guide to various flours. I couldn’t believe how many goodies I found inside The Best of Clean Eating—and I’m not just talking about the recipes. I kid you not when I say the photos are amazing; this cookbook could double as a coffee table book for sure!

I really wanted to give multiple recipes a try but of course spent more time perusing the pages than planning a meal, so instead I chose one signature recipe: Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. I had most of the six ingredients on hand and hit Walmart for the almond butter and Good Earth Natural Foods for the sucanat. This recipe only requires six ingredients:

Not pictured: salt (but I did add it, promise)

...
I mixed that long list of ingredients…

...
Then used my favorite cookie dough scoop to place them on the parchment paper (good thing I had that on hand!)

...
After about 12 minutes, they were ready! I let them cool only a moment before tasting one. I was surprised at how good they tasted for not having any “decadent” ingredients. And of course, because they’re good for you, I can eat as many as I want without feeling bad about it. (Nathan has already put that theory to good use!)

...
I noticed they do look a bit different than the photo. Those cookies almost look like they have an oatmeal of sorts in them, but then again, they’re professionally made and photographed. What do I know?

Other recipes I’m anxious to try? Spinach, Chicken & Mushroom Dinner Crepes; Smothered Cheeseburgers; Cobb SaladSteak & Farfalle Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce; and Molten Lava Cakes.

Listed at $23 ($14 on Amazon.com), The Best of Clean Eating is a must-have cookbook for your ever-growing collection. And if you’re cookbook shelf is overflowing like mine, you can easily put this on display so guests can ooh and aah over its contents. The Best of Clean Eating will have you sold on the idea healthy eating can be seriously delicious!—Emily

“...to fill a void in the category for high quality designer look and quality nursery and home décor without designer prices. With a degree in arts and background in graphic design, Thomas’ passion for creativity brings a fresh new approach to a clean, simple, and fashionable look for nursery and home décor. Her designs are inspired by her two children.”

I agree that oilo’s designs are clean, simple and fashionable. For example the sticks crib set. I’m in love with it! Oilo currently has seven modern crib sets available for purchase. All are fairly gender neutral and all are cute, although I wish they had some more gender-specific sets (ie: a pink set).

I was sent a duvet cover and sham to review. I’m impressed by the vibrancy of the color and the softness of the cotton sateen. Although I can’t attest to durability, the duvet and cover feel like they have the kind of quality that’ll last a long, long while. My only complaint about the bedding line is tthe lack of options. Right now you can choose from modern berries in spring green or cobblestone in taupe. I sure hope oilo cooks us up some more patterns and colors because I really like everything they’ve produced!

Oilo also has some great lighting options and lots of variety there. I’m excited to see where oilo goes in the future as I feel their foundation is solid. – Katie

***Giveaway! Oilo is giving away one pillow to one lucky reader (oilo’s choice)!****

To enter “like” oilo on facebook and then leave a comment on this post saying you did. It’s that easy!

Giveaway closes on March 13th at midnight. Winner will be contacted via email and will have 24 hours to respond or else a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to Jaclyn!

****Promotion! Oilo is also offering BC readers a $20 off when you spend $50 or more with code BoutiqueCafe2011***

Features:
299 pages of learning activities
Answer Key at back of book
Perforated pages great for use as tear-out worksheets
Parent Guide inside front cover

Skills: addition; subtraction; hundreds; tens; ones; number/object matching; fractions; regrouping; two-digit subtraction and addition; three-digit subtraction and addition; telling time; charts; tables; bar graphs; pictographs; beginning multiplication

And even better, Livi (age 3) had a fun time doing a couple of the easier worksheets in the book. The pages were bright, colorful, entertaining and easy for both parent and child to understand. Both kids wanted to do multiple pages in one sitting, but I had to reign them in—I want this rather thick treasure to last us a while!

Here’s a little video of the kids in action enjoying the Big Math 1-2 Workbook by School Zone:






Though $19.99 may seem like a bit of an investment for a math workbook, this series comes with software for a great workbook-software combination. The software “takes children on a magical journey to another galaxy where each world provides a chance to earn pieces to a creature-making machine.” It offers math challenges, demos and coaching. It really is an awesome package! I love anything that makes learning fun, and School Zone’s Big Math 1-2 Workbook definitely does just that!—Emily

** Giveaway! School Zone is giving away one BIG Math 1-2 workbook! **

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:

•   Visit SchoolZone.com and leave a comment telling us what workbook you think your kids would like most.
•   “Like” School Zone on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•   Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•   Update your Facebook status including a link to this giveaway.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 10, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

The book has just the right amount of prompting and material. It’s not over crowded and it doesn’t contain any pages that I won’t fill – every page is relevant. I won’t have to feel guilty about skipping a page because I won’t be skipping any pages! I like that the book has pages for ages 1 to 3 as well as blank pages in the back for fave photos. The weight of the paper in the pages is enough to make an stationary admirer happy and the quality of the book is excellent. It’ll definitely last. You can look through the entire book on the Binth website.

Binth is a really fun company and make a great variety of products. The Binth design teams loves to explore – mixing colors and playing with typefaces. The latest addition to their line is their collection of eight hand-poured soy wax candles. The candles are manufactured in the same state the company is run out of – Illinois – by Indie Candle Maker CRASH.

Here’s a little more about Binth:

We have also been busy working on fresh directions and collections of quite curious new designs, further exploring exciting collaborations with fellow artists. (psst…a children’s book, fantastic new posters, prints and artful wooden playthings are in the making.)

***Giveaway! Binth is giving away one Baby Book (in green, value – $95) to one lucky Boutique Cafe reader!***

To enter, visit Binth and leave a comment on this post telling me what products interest you, or what your favorite page in the baby book is.

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline extended: March 11, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to Katrina! You’re going to love this book!

I was sent several of their beautiful eye shadows to try out, they all come in adorable 5g makeup pots ($3.99 per color in their shop). Now 5grams might not seem like very much to you, but with this beautiful eyeshadow you don’t need as much as typical makeup – a little goes a long way. I couldn’t believe how saturated the color was, you could make it as intense as you want or blend it out for a softer look for everyday.

Application of mineral makeup is so easy, I would recommend using some decent makeup brushes to have the ability to blend to your hearts content. However, if you’re in a rush you can even apply it with your finger tips. I love that this eyeshadow doesn’t get that “creasy” look after a few hours, it stays beautifully and has me convinced that mineral makeup is for me. Best of all, you really don’t feel any heaviness while wearing it – I love that aspect with the Providence & Grace shadows.

You can try out several colors and other makeup options in their Etsy store for such great pricing. I highly recommend snagging some pretty shadows to treat yourself with no guilt whatsoever. I’m already making my list of colors I want to try next including: Baby, Polished Silver, Wink and Moor. For gorgeous and affordable cosmetics try Providence and Grace, I couldn’t believe my eyes! – Daria

*** Giveaway! Providence And Grace is kindly giving away one $25 Gift Certificate to their shop!***

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 comment for each one you do:

• Visit Providence & Grace on Etsy and leave a comment telling us what product you’d most like to try.
• LIKE Providence & Grace on Facebook and leave a comment that Boutique Cafe sent you, they would Love to hear your fave eyeshadow color too!
• Tweet about this giveaway (use @BoutiqueCafe in your tweet) and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Update your status on Facebook 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: March 1, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

First up I have Enjoy Life Foods’ gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, tree-nut free, soy-free, egg-free and casein-free soft baked cookies. One thing they’re not free of? Taste. The Double Chocolate Brownie and Snickerdoodle varieties were delicious. So delicious I had to physically remove them from being within arm’s reach so I didn’t polish off the entire box!

Olivia and George helped me taste test the Snickerdoodle, Lively Lemon and Double Chocolate Brownie varieties:






...
Nathan enjoyed the Lively Lemon, as did Lauren. The other boxes were polished off by day’s end. Soft, chewy, tasty AND all that allergen-friendly goodness makes them the perfect healthy snack! Other flavors of soft baked cookies include: Chewy Chocolate Chip, No-Oats “Oatmeal,” Gingerbread Spice and Happy Apple.

Enjoy Life Foods also sent us some boom CHOCO boom chocolate bars. These little bars of chocolaty goodness are the first, truly allergy-friendly chocolate bar. Dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free and gluten-free. And once again, NOT free on taste. I should know. George and I downed the Dark Chocolate Bar, and then Madison, Lauren and I polished off the Crispy Rice Bar:






...
Did you catch how Lauren said they taste better than that other crisp rice bar? Major compliment! They also have a Rice Milk Bar to round out the collection of guilt-free chocolate indulgence. (My kids don’t know I’ve hidden the rest of the samples…and yes, Olivia was able to break out the watercolors.)

Enjoy Life Foods seriously rocks the allergen-free food world with it’s variety of good-for-your-insides cereals, cookies, granolas, snack bars, bagels, trail mixes, chocolate chips and chocolate bars. Thank you, ELF, for allowing me to eat “freely” and with abandon!—Emily

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What’s so great about EVOL burritos? Well, along with actually tasting gourmet and good, they have ingredients like “free-range chicken and traditionally made tortillas…rad recipes like green chilé for the pork to stew in, and house-made chorizo.” Is your mouth watering yet? It should be!

EVOL sent me a variety pack of their mini burritos and I am addicted. It’s kind of a problem because these mini burritos are disappearing faster than I’d like them to! Good thing they’re only about 160 calories a piece—that means I can eat two for lunch!

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A little EVOL philosophy:

We believe that frozen food can, and should, taste great – it is the perfect opportunity to combine convenience with excellence. These made-from-scratch, portable-power snacks prove an awesome messenger for our statement to the frozen world: TASTE RULES. Think we are excited? You bet… at EVOL, we LOVE our burritos.

EVOL also offers wraps, premium burritos and bowls. What’s not to LOVE? (You did catch that EVOL is “love” spelled backward, right?)—Emily

*** Giveaway! EVOL is giving away one large variety pack of mini burritos!***

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 comment for each one you do:

•  Visit EVOL.com and leave a comment telling us what product you’d most like to try.
•  ”Like” EVOL on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•  Follow EVOL 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.
•  Update your status on Facebook 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: March 10, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Here in Denver, it’s really dry. I myself struggle with sore skin on my hands. And Holly’s skin has gotten really bad over the last 6 months. I began my search for a suitable lotion when I was offered an opportunity to review exederm. My search ended there. Holly’s skin on her legs and arms was really bumpy and red. Her face was always dry and looked rashy most of the time. Now, her bumps are nearly gone and her face never looks rashy. That’s after using exederm’s products for only a month and a half or so. And I don’t even put the lotion on her every day, although I’m certain if I did, her skin would be completely clear by now! I use a few of their different lotions on her – the intensive baby moisturizer, the lotion and the flare control cream. I also have been using the wash and the shampoo. I would like it if the wash foamed a tad bit more, but it’s foaming is comparable to what I was using before. I don’t use the moisturizer as much as the lotion because of the open-top container it comes in. With a curious and busy toddler it’s harder to get the moisturizer only where I want it when she’s trying to scoop a handful!

exederm has such a great ultra sensitive formula that the National Eczema Association has awarded it with a “Seal of Acceptance” and the products have received the organizations highest rating of 5/5.

The products contain:

• no frangrance


• no color or dyes


• no parabens


• no sodium laureth sulfate


• no cocamidopropyl betaine


• no propylene glycol


• no phthalates

Nothing but pure moisture!

I do have to admit that I miss the fragrance of the brand of wash and lotion we’ve been using up until now. However, I’d much rather my child has comfortable, smooth skin than smell a specific way. From one Mom to another, if your child is struggling with dry skin, you must try out exederm. It’s a miracle! – Katie

PS: exederm also has a full line of adult products. exederm has worked so well with Holly that I have no doubt their adult products are equally excellent.

To me these were utterly irresistible, they might as well have been dripping in chocolate! So the package arrived today, and inside were Lola’s new ruffle shoes. I ordered them a bit big so she has to wait a few months to wear them, but we’re ready to be all stylin’. Lola’s reaction was priceless, she literally gasped when she saw them. That’s my girl!

Thanks Emily and See Kai Run for adding yet another vice into my life. XOXO - Daria

Although most women love chocolate and wouldn’t mind being given chocolate, it is seen as kind of a cop-out come Valentine’s Day…that is, unless you are being handed a box of handcrafted, beautifully and uniquely created aphrodisiacs disguised as gourmet chocolate truffles.

Katrina Markoff, chocolatier and owner of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, ensures only the highest quality ingredients are used in Vosges’ exotic truffles. In fact she personally chooses every spice, flower and chocolate and “utilizes the original methods of French confectionery artistry which she learned during her training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.” She has worked in France, Spain, Italy, Southeast Asia and Australia, so her haut-chocolats have “worldly inspirations. ... The infusions of rare spices and flowers combined with premium chocolate give a delicate balance of flavor, leaving you with a layered and lingering sensation of spice and chocolate, a true haut-chocolat experience.”

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Vosges Haut-Chocolat has launched the new Luxe Sweet Coquette Truffle Collection:

Inside our Sweet Coquette Collection a dossier of aphrodisiac truffles and folklore await. For centuries, anxious suitors, emperors and queens have sipped many substances in the hopes of wooing a reluctant lover or arousing desire. This petite box features four powerful parfums—from oysters to mamajuana to pistachios—to inspire a memorable evening.

Now, Nathan and I hadn’t read what truffles were featured in the collection before embarking on this whole exotic-truffle-as-aphrodisiac experience. (And yes, I suggest enjoying these with your Valentine—think of it as foreplay to foreplay.) We simply educated ourselves on how to eat Vosges chocolate (though the directions for the Luxe Sweet Coquette collection are a bit more, shall I say, sexy)...

...and then picked one to give it a go. We started with the one featuring the small rose petal nestled on the top of the truffle; it was my first experience eating something with a rose flavor, but I kind of liked what is a romantic scent infused into a decadent dessert. The chocolate had a nice snap and the ganache was extremely smooth and creamy. (I found out this is the Bronte, which features Sicilian pistachio paste, rose water and 45% deep milk chocolate.)

I went solo for the second taste test (Nathan had a cold and no sense of smell, hence no sense of taste) and tried the white chocolate truffle brushed with pearl dust. Though I’m not usually a white chocolate lover, Vosges truffles are so unique, I had to give it a shot. Nice aroma, nice snap and a creamy center—with what I said to Nathan was a “fishy” aftertaste. Come to find out, this is Vosges Haut-Chocolat’s newest truffle: the Kumamoto featuring “a seducing combination of Kumamoto oyster-infused cream, white chocolate and edible pearl dust.” I’m all for aphrodisiacs, but not being one for seafood, I’d have to find another truffle to “pique carnal pleasure.”

The collection also includes the Edith (Piper Heidsieck Rose Sauvage Champagne, crushed rosebud tea and 65% dark chocolate) and the Mamajuana (craft spirit infused with rum and secret spices, 65% dark chocolate and chamomile). By the way, I guess the chamomile after smelling the Mamajuana truffle. These beauties are wonderful fragrant! Though I didn’t enjoy the Kumamoto, I did appreciate its unique flavor as I did the Bronte. Of course, if you truly experience Vosges’ Luxe Sweet Coquette Collection as they’re meant to be experienced, you’ll discover it’s not just about the haut-chocolates.

Vosges Haut-Chocolat has a wonderful assortment of Valentine’s Day gifts including vegan, gluten-free and champagne-paired gift sets.

Their Mini Valentine’s Day Candy Bar Library is another treasure they sent for review, but the truffles were so rich I couldn’t take another bite. And that statement right there tells you Vosges Haut-Chocolat is some pretty serious—and sexy—chocolate.—Emily

Are you looking for the perfect bedding for your new baby? Are you stumped, trying to find something that looks “just so”? May I recommend Carousel Designs to you. I had the opportunity to review their toddler bedding for Holly. I didn’t design exactly what I wanted, but I loved that I could order swatches and see which bedding would work the best with what I had chosen for the room already. I ended up choosing the Candy Pink Damask and I love it’s bright cheeriness. I really like that it came with a pillow too, because I had no idea what kind of pillow to get for a toddler bed!

Carousel Designs has an excellent selection (over 100 pre-designed bedding collections), however if you want to design your own, it’s as easy as dragging and dropping. You can see your design as it’s put together as well as the price. It’s so easy, why wouldn’t you want to design your own nursery!? You can mix and match fabrics (there’s over 300 fabrics to choose from!) and component styles or change the color of the nursery walls (using actual Benjamin Moore colors), choose and crib finish and pick flooring to design a virtual nursery, allowing a more accurate visualization of your nursery. The turnaround is quick; orders are fulfilled in weeks, not days and everything is made here in the USA rather than overseas.

If you want more than just bedding, don’t worry! Carousel Designs has you covered there. You can also purchase lighting, furniture, rugs, musical mobiles, pillows, diaper stackers, wall art, draperies, rocking chair pads and valances. Plus Carousel Designs has bedding for mini/portable cribs, cradles, toddler bed, and twin and full/queen sized beds.

Like I said, I’m really happy with the bedding I received for Holly’s toddler bed. It’s cute and comfy and has made Holly’s transition into a toddler bed easier for me! – Katie

When I was asked if we would review Power Gig: Rise of the Six String, the latest rock band-style video game for XBox 360, I knew my kids would jump at the chance to give the new game a test drive. Power Gig is a “revolutionary band video game with a fully immersive storyline [that] takes you beyond beat matching and into a world of characters, special powers, and an epic journey to save rock and roll.” The game features songs from exclusive artists Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews Band, and Kid Rock plus a 70-song playlist from “music superstars and emerging indie talent.” Apparently more than 80% of the songs have never been used in a video game.

Along with the game you can purchase the guitar game controller—the first guitar controller that features strings rather than buttons. In fact, when you’re done playing Power Gig, you can plug it into an amp, crank it up, and play the guitar for real. Sounds super cool! Question is, did my kids think it was cool?

Not so much. Sure, the graphics were super nifty and a guitar controller with real strings was nifty in concept, but it took a heck of a lot longer to set up and figure out than most Xbox games they’ve tried. They got a bit frustrated when they couldn’t just plug everything in and work their way through the game without reading the instructions:

Yes, that would be Madison throwing the instruction book at me while taping. The final verdict for our family? This game has some great potential, but it would help if those playing either had guitar experience already OR had the patience to figure out how to play (and the time to read the instruction manual). It was far too tricky to work through the menu and options and my daughter lost interest fairly quickly.

The game also has AirStrike drums you can add to the system. The drumsticks know which drum you’ve hit and with which stick you’ve hit it. You also “hear pure, foot-stomping, thunderclap drum sounds, not the flimsy pitter-patter of traditional pads” and can “improvise your own drum fills.” (Sorry for all the quoting but I am no music person and have never played a rock band-style game so I haven’t a clue what I’m talking about!)

If you have a rock star wannabe, Power Gig: Rise of the Six String would truly be the perfect gift. I mean, you’re talking STRINGS, not buttons here. And you also have what sounds like a cool plot going with feisty bandmates. Me? I’m no gamer but I’d love to watch a couple teens (or grownups who are reliving their high school garage band days) play Power Gig. It would be some serious entertainment!—Emily

P.S. Power Gig has a great Parents’ FAQs page in case you have a few questions.

About this time of year, when it still tends to snow once in a while and the temps are below 30, I get a serious case of spring fever. And nothing helps cure spring fever more than a fabulous new outfit or accessory, am I right, girls?

Shop Suey Boutique, which I’ve featured before on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish, has a wonderful collection of celebrity-inspired handbags (along with some fab jewelry and other accessories). They sent me the Cammy Hobo in off-white, which features super soft leather-like material, silver hardware and lots of pockets. (I love lots of pockets!)

Though a little larger than my typical handbag, I love this design. It has plenty of room for everything, including my ginormous bag of lip gloss, an extra pair of gloves and extra Kleenex for the 20-degree weather we still have here in Utah. It has a large zippered center divider-style pocket, which would fit a netbook, or in my case, a notebook because I tend to forget everything unless it’s written down.

Being my first off-white handbag, I wasn’t sure what I’d think of the color, but I am loving it! It goes with everything, even my favorite outfit: jeans and a t-shirt. And even though the Cammy Hobo is oversized for me, I could still find everything easily. Nothing got lost inside that bag, not even that travel pack of Kleenex!

The only negative thing I was going to say about this bag is no longer true. Here’s the story: When I first got the bag, I thought you had to buckle/unbuckle it when you wanted to open/close it, which left this sort of floppy buckle hanging off the side of the bag. And then at one point I lost the buckle and thought it was a really, really bad design…

...until I realized it had a magnet on the back and you were supposed to keep the strap buckled and simply open and close the handbag using the magnetic closure. (Can you tell I’m a bit slow when I don’t get enough caffeine?)

So there’s pretty much nothing I don’t like about the Cammy Hobo—including the price (less than $60)! Shop Suey Boutique even has a short video showing you the ins and outs of the Cammy Hobo. You can check it out here.

If you’re starting to feel the onset of spring fever, I recommend you take a look around ShopSueyBoutique.com. I guarantee you’ll find something to boost your wintry spirits—and at a price that will boost your budget!—Emily

*** Promotion! Cure your fever now with 20% off your purchase! Simply enter code cafe20 at checkout and you can start accessorizing for spring today! ***

I love the simple, clean lines of my Avalicious dress. It’s form-fitting which helped me to embraced my curved figure and feel beautiful. The dress is very well made from a medium-weight knit and it washed beautifully.

Yes, the price feels a tad high for something you may only wear a few times, however, for me, the most attractive I’ve felt in this pregnancy is when I’ve been wearing that dress and for me, that makes it worth the dollars!

Babes with Babies also carries dresses that work throughout pregnancy and then allows for breastfeeding access post-pardum. A definite investment piece. We all know how hard it is to find an attractive dress that is breastfeeding accessible. I think this summer frock is absolutely darling (don’t you agree?) and it looks as though it drapes in just the right way, concealing any softness post-pardum.

I like that Babes with Babies carries very fashion-forward dresses – what else would you expect from Europeans? None of their dresses look frumpy or like something your Mom wore when she was pregnant with you. I want to do my best to embrace my body and the miracle that’s occurring and Babes with Babies definitely makes that happen! They don’t just carry dresses though. They carry all sorts of maternity clothing, baby gifts, gorgeous diaper bags, things for new Mums…. lots and lots of great fashion! -Katie

I have never been to a cookie exchange party but I’ve always wanted to attend one. I mean, an evening of exchanging yummy recipes and then coming home with about 6 dozen cookies? Sounds like heaven to me!

If you’ve always wanted to host a cookie exchange party but aren’t quite sure how to go about it, then today’s review is for you! The Cookie Party Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Cookie Exchange promises to walk you through the event so you’re sure to have a successful party:

Robin Olson has made a 19th century invention a beloved tradition again with THE COOKIE PARTY COOKBOOK. ... Olson has perfected her ideas—through her rich and much-beloved website, the experiences of her guests, friends and her international network of bakers and hosting scores of parties of her own. Her knowledge is packed into this wonderful, informative, bursting-at-the-seams book.

In The Cookie Party Cookbook, you will learn:

• How to throw a cookie exchange, including a helpful timeline and suggestions on invitations, entertainment and refreshments.


• Tips for a perfect cookie swap (hints: don’t invite men or kids, do serve savories, think of at least one silly and fun activity or contest).


• Ideas for festive packaging, expert cookie decorating, baking tips and smart shipping


• Over 170 recipes for no-fail cookies, bars, candies and more (from Peppermint Pinwheels to Eggnog Logs).

Though I didn’t have time to actually throw a cookie party, I did want to try out a class cookie recipe, so we gave the Snickerdoodle recipe a test run. And by “we” I mean my daughter and her friend. I figured if they could whip up a batch of these cookies, the book would be a success! My daughter snapped a few photos while making the Snickerdoodles. Here are the ingredients (not sure why she used coarse kosher salt, but it worked!):

Then the girls mixed, scooped, rolled and baked!

And I can tell you those Snickerdoodles were delicious! I taste-tested them over and over and over again! I loved how the recipes all had icons letting you know the level of difficulty and if it was a great recipe for kids. Lots and lots of step-by-step guidance that both a novice and experienced cookie-party-thrower would find useful. This cookbook has everything! I’m actually getting pretty excited about hosting a cookie exchange, perhaps in the spring!

Here’s a little bit about the author:

Robin Olson, aka “The Cookie Exchange Queen”, started her website, cookie-exchange.com, more than 10 years ago and has built it into the category go-to site, with more than 1.5 million unique visitors each year. She’s been featured in a variety of media, from the cover of Country Woman magazine to the New York Times and the Food Network. She lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

*** Giveaway! We are giving away one (1) copy of The Cookie Party Cookbook! ***

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:

•Leave a comment telling us your favorite cookie or cookie recipe.

•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: February 7, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

I was so happy when I came across Leslie Lewis Designs and even happier when I received the opportunity to test a couple pieces. Plus, Leslie is based out of the Colorado area and I love it when I find companies local to me to review!

Leslie sent me her Oro Diamond necklace and her Posh Bracelet. Here’s a quick description of the necklace:

The Oro Diamond necklace is a genuine diamond inlaid in a vermeil disk.  Especially charming is the 14-karat goldfill bead chain.  It is so sweet and delicate yet with a modern twist.  It is an understated yet classic piece that can be worn with a t-shirt and jeans or with your favorite LBD.

This necklace is right up there with my Love Locket. I wear my Oro Diamond necklace all the time. It’s so easy for me to throw on and it makes me feel a billion times more put together when I’m wearing my regular t-shirt and jeans combo. I love it’s subtle beauty. I find it so unassuming and gorgeous all at once. This is one piece that every woman should own. It’s excellent.

The Posh bracelet is made with Swarovski crystal, quartz, freshwater pearl, labradorite, and Bali and Thai silver. It really does have a great weight and drape to it. I love the toggle clasp. Although I found it to be a little on the older side for me, I still think it’s a beautiful piece. I found the bracelet to be a bit on the small side as well, which is fine for me because I have small wrists. If you have larger than average wrists you’ll want to add a bit of length to your bracelet.

Speaking of jewelry age, one thing I love about Leslie Lewis Designs is that the designs satisfy a large age-range and she has many timeless pieces. You really could throw a trunk show and invite everyone you know from your teenage niece to your Grandmother and everyone would find something they adored. It’s not often that I come across a jewelry designer with this specific skill and I find it quite admirable.

Another note about Leslie’s pieces – they are so well crafted. I have no doubt that my Oro Diamond necklace and Posh Bracelet will last for years and years. Her jewelry doesn’t feel homemade, it feels extremely professional and put together. I’m extremely happy with these pieces and I highly recommend purchasing jewelry from this designer. – Katie

***Giveaway Leslie Lewis Designs is offering one $150 gift certificate to one lucky Boutique Cafe Reader!***

Here’s how to enter. You may do as many as these as you like. Each counts as one entry into the giveaway. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

• Visit Leslie Lewis Designs and leave a comment on this post telling me how you’d spend $150


• Tweet about this review and giveaway (leave a link to your tweet in your comment)


• Post this review and giveaway on Facebook (leave a link to you post in your comment)

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 2, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations Kate! You’re our lucky winner.

Authors Adam Epstein and Andrew Jacobsen took their shared love of animals and magic and turned it into Vastia, an imaginative, fantastical, creative world full of magic. Here is a bit about the book from the website:

Running to save his life, Aldwyn, the street-wise orphan cat, ducks into a strange store. Moments later Jack, a young wizard-in-training, comes in to pick out his familiar—a magical animal companion. Aldwyn’s always been clever. But magical? Apparently Jack thinks so—and Aldwyn is happy to play along. Anything to get out of town!Once home with Jack in Stone Runlet, Aldwyn thinks that he’s got it made—a life of ease with a boy who loves him. He just has to convince the other familiars—the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert—that he’s the telekinetic cat he claims to be.

Then, after the sky lights up with an omen, the unthinkable happens. Jack and the other young wizards are captured by the evil queen of Vastia. Together Aldwyn, Skylar and Gilbert must save them—but how? On their thrilling quest across the land, the familiars will face dangerous foes, unearth a shocking centuries old secret, and discover a mysterious destiny that will change them all forever.

It was an awesome book because the words were pretty big and because they only had pictures when you really needed it to picture it in your head. And there’s much action and I couldn’t put it down. I love how it’s about magic and animals, my two favorite things. And when I was almost done with The Familiars, the teacher said, “Okay class, we’re going to have to do a book on the Newberry Award.” And I raised my hand and asked if we could already be reading a book. I thought it could be a Newberry book because of how good it was!

** Giveaway! The authors are giving away one (1) copy of The Familiars! **

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 who will read this book if you win.
•Join The Familiars group on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•Follow The Familiars 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.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: August 28, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

My most recent and amazing Etsy find has been One Life Jewelry. I swooned over their pieces of jewelry before contacting them and I was so happy when Arlyne, the owner, wanted to do a review on Boutique Cafe. She sent me her “Your Irreplaceable Spark” necklace and I’ve loved wearing it. It’s a little 3/8” 14k gold filled disc that’s been hammered and polished. It hangs from a dainty chain and is so subtle, yet so beautiful. Arlyne has so many other gorgeous pieces; one of my other favourites is her Sweet Leaf and Iolite necklace. I love the personalization of this piece; it’s subtle and delicate and most importantly, not tacky. I’ve found that sometimes personalized jewelry can land on the other end of darling, but One Life Jewelry is the master of perfect personalization!

Here’s a little of what Arlyne has to say about herself and One Life Jewelry:

“I was a clothing designer for many years in New York City. I thought I left designing behind me when we moved to Florida to raise our family, but now with all my time at the beach, under the stars, at parks with my two kids, I have found inspiration and passion again. Or perhaps it’s found me….

I enjoy making jewelry that will uplift and inspire. It’s like wearing small reminders of things we appreciate and make us happy.

One vision, one goal, one child, one man, one woman, one choice, one heart, one day, one moment, One Life…

One Life Jewelry.”

You just have to visit One Life Jewelry today! You’ll be “favoriting” so many items and coming up with lots of ideas for what your Valentines should give you next month! Make sure you check out the awesome giveaway below that One Life Jewelry is giving to Boutique Cafe readers! – Katie

****Giveaway**** One Life Jewelry is giving away a newly designed necklace, not even available in the shop yet! This is a Boutique Cafe exclusive! The necklace is called “Strength, Courage, Wisdom.” It’s three small 14k gold filled disks that are hand stamped in scripts and hung on a 16” chain comprised of 18k gold vermeil and genuine moonstones. The piece will retail for $100. See photos below.

Here’s how to enter: Leave a comment telling me what other piece of jewelry you like from One Life Jewelry. It’s that easy!

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: January 28, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations Mal! You’re the lucky winner.

First a little bit more about these pretzels:

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels offer an assortment of amazing pretzels, using all-natural and premium ingredients, like freshly shredded cheeses, hearty spices, unbleached flour, and whole grains. Our pretzel creations are then flash frozen, in order to deliver a superior quality and amazingly fresh delicious flavor.

The first time we baked them, we were in a rush heading out the door for a long drive south to St. George. The baking directions claimed 5-7 minutes, but they were still extremely cold in the center, so we baked them another 5 minutes. And even then they weren’t super hot, making them not gooey. We are them because we were rushing and hungry and late, but the kids weren’t fans. Nathan and I were okay with the Cheddar Jalapeno and Pizza Pretzel but didn’t sample the others. (Wish I had photos but we were in way too much of a hurry.)

Two nights ago we baked them again. I wanted to give those pretzels another shot in case our first review was a random one due to the circumstances. This time I baked them for at least 10 minutes before taking them out because they started to look too toasted. The centers were again cold—definitely NOT ooey gooey like in the photos, so I microwaved each one for another 10 seconds before serving. That definitely helped, but the consistency of the Grilled Cheese and Cheddar Jalapeno was still far from gooey and cheesy. Only one of the four kids liked their pretzel (the Pizza Pretzel), although I became a fan of the Spinach Feta Pretzel that evening. I really did find that one delicious, even if I couldn’t taste much of the feta. Nathan thought they were all pretty good. I would say the Grilled Cheese was probably the least favorite, while the kick in the Cheddar Jalapeno was tasty. (Again, wish I had photos but dinnertime was far too crazy.)

After taste-testing the samples, I won’t be ordering any of those flavors, but I am still tempted to try Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels classic pretzel flavors like Traditional Bavarian, Whole Grain Bavarian and Sourdough Asiago. Though we didn’t like the fillings per se, I did love the flavor and texture and lightness of the dough…and I do love a good pretzel, so I’d be more than willing to give their non-filled versions a shot.They look tasty, don’t they?

And who’s to say a filled Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzel freshly made and hot out of the oven wouldn’t be totally delicious and decadent? Unfortunately Utah doesn’t yet have a Café Twist!—Emily

I was sent a few of their items including the matchbook calendar, the gingham notepad and a couple sets of greeting card assortments. It was definitely one of my best mail days!

The matchbook calendar is just the right size to throw in your purse and help you keep track of the days. I love the style of it and the color (tomato red) is so rich. The notepad is a perfectly update notepad. Whenever I think notepad, I think of something rather awkwardly shaped and butterflies and pastel flower beds always come to mind. The gingham notepad definitely changed my mind. It’s size (3” x 4.75”) fits comfortably in the hand and it’s updated style makes me feel like jotting done a grocery list is chic. And the paper has a beautiful weight. This is no flimsy notepad, nor is it your Granny’s notepad! Onto the greeting cards. Inkello does an excellent job of exploring vibrant colors and mixing them. As well as sticking to more familiar color combinations and improving them. I loved the boldness that some cards expressed and the sweetness that others showed. Each sampler comes beautifully packaged in velum and a ribbon. I love these cards. It’ll be hard to part with them! If this is your first time visiting inkello, please take your time perusing their products. You won’t be disappointed! And I think you may find your shopping cart filling up rather quickly! – Katie

You remember when I reviewed Clarechen’s Hi Height crib sheet? I also was sent a couple baby speaks bib to review. These bibs are such a clever idea! Holly has been called a boy, even when wearing full-on pink. I’m sure a baby speaks bib would be the perfect solution to preventing the awkward, “actually, she’s a girl,” conversation. We’ve all been there and I think I can safely say we’ve all also been on both sides of that conversation!

The bibs are cute and great, basic colours. Pink for girls, blue for boys, and yellow with 3 blank conversation bubbles so you can fill in what you want! They’re a soft knit cotton that is fairly absorbent. These bibs make great baby shower gifts. Check ‘em out here to purchase. – Katie

Royal Rugrats is a fantastically well stocked shop on Etsy featuring handmade felt play sets including things like vegetables, peanut butter sandwiches, strawberries, bacon and eggs, cookies, spaghetti and even sushi!! Lola received the precious kitchen utensils and some little sugar cookies designed for little fingers and big imaginations in mind. I fell immediately in love with the quality and beauty of each piece in her set, they are sewn with great care and I expect they will last Lola for many years of fun. I also loved the sizing of each piece in Lola’s set, they were perfect for her and I know any little child would be thrilled to have a play set of their own. It’s just the type of thing I would have squealed about when I was a kid.

Brooke is the owner and designer behind the Royal Rugrats products, she has a fashion design degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and a merchandising degree from Oneonta State University. Brooke began her business creating these soft play foods and sets because she didn’t like the hard plastic kinds available in stores. Then she discovered the beauty of working with felt to create her designs and became hooked, she now runs Royal Rugrats Yummies full time and the response to her store has been incredible.

We’d like to invite you to bake up some Felt Fun of your very own. This type of play is so wonderful for children, it broadens their minds and helps their imaginations to dance with creativity. Lola and I will be play baking again today, why don’t you stop by Royal Rugrats and join us. – XO Daria

GIVEAWAY:
We think these soft felt foods are the cutest thing going, but you don’t have to take my word for it! Royal Rugrats is giving away 1 Kitchen Utensil set (value $22) to a viewer in Canada or the US. 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:

PROMOTION:
Additionally they are offering a SWEET AS CAN BE Promotion for our readers – For a shop promo on either her Website or ETSY shop they will give the 3 Valentines cookies to anyone who makes a purchase!! Simply purchase your order and put “Boutique Cafe Cookies” in the message area on either site and they will be added to the order for FREE! This is a limited time offer good until February 10th, 2011.

Today I bring you the latest in their lineup of healthy, organic baby food products: Super Puffs. Here’s why Plum Organics calls these little snacks “super”:

• Made from real fruits & veggies


• Whole grains


• USDA certified organic


• Delightful flavors


• Lightweight packaging (and it fits in cup holder)


• BPA-free, recyclable container

Super Puffs come in five bright colors and flavors: blueberry & purple sweet potato; spinach & apple; banana & peach; strawberry & beet; mango & sweet potato.

We busted open the strawberry & beet flavor at home and Livi dove right in:

She enjoyed munching on those for a bit and also liked the banana & peach, but since those first couple days, they’ve remained untouched in the pantry. I’m thinking it’s because she’s no longer a baby and prefers string cheese, tortilla chips and vanilla yogurt to Super Puffs. Due to the fact she’s not the target market for Super Puffs, I gave a few containers to a friend’s daughter who had a 7-month-old baby girl. Here’s her take on Plum Organics Super Puffs:

Taste Tester Info:
Morgan Kate was 7 mo. old when she tried them and had no teeth. She was strictly on breast milk and small amounts of rice cereal and first foods vegetables baby food. She had only recently tried a rice type cookie wafer. She sat up easily and was beginning to get up on all fours and go from sitting to crawling position but wasn’t actually crawling.Like:
Great packaging
Love that it’s organic and low in sugar.
Appealing taste
Didn’t crumble
Some vitamins
Didn’t make a mess all over her face and bib
Nice coloring but didn’t seem to stain anything
Didn’t seem to pose any kind of choking risk (she would not have given her Cheerios or rice puffs cereal; she felt better that these were designed for babies)

Not Sure:
She was more interested in playing with them than eating them.
The ones she put in her mouth she kind of rolled around at the tip of her tongue and they often fell out of her mouth.
She seemed to want to put them in her mouth only because they were there, not because she was hungry or liked the taste.

Didn’t Like:
Quite bland—not worse than any other product in this category but not sure if an older child would eat them
Didn’t contain any fiber or huge nutritional value so wasn’t sure they would supplement baby food.

Would she buy them?
Possibly when Morgan Kate was a month older. It would also depend on cost because so far she just pushed most of them on the floor.

Happy New Year! Did you get everything you wanted for the holidays? If you didn’t get something from the Vintage Pearl, then you must read on and add your favourite item to your Valentines wish list.

I was sent the Mama Bird Necklace to review with 2 pearls which signify my first daughter and my upcoming second. I chose to not have anything stamped on it as I liked the simplicity of the copper bird. The necklace is really sweet and an excellent and subtle way to celebrate the “Mama” in your life. It’s a great necklace for every day wearing and it even arrived with it’s very own polish cloth, which conveniently helps me to keep it in tip-top shape.

The Vintage Pearl was begun by a stay-at-home Mom, Erin, looking for a creative outlet. And it grew into a popular business. The Vintage Pearl even has a storefront with a studio in Tulsa, OK! Exciting, right? You can check out Erin’s blog here.

Many other items can be found from the Vintage Pearl, and since each item is hand stamped, you can guarantee that your’s will be unique and made especially for you. Some of my other favourite items are the initial on a chain necklace and the silver cuff bracelet. I would love a little baby spoon as a keepsake for my second daughter. The spoons come hand stamped with your choice of words. Darling! -Katie

***Promotion! The Vintage Pearl is offering Boutique Cafe readers 15% off from now until the end of February. Just use the promo code CAFE15. Whatcha gonna get?!

Swimming in Noodles by Jim Cosgrove

Jim Cosgrove is an award-winning performer who channeled a lot of free-wheeling energy into his latest CD, Swimming in Noodles. I love an upbeat, bounce-in-your-seat children’s CD and this one definitely fits the bill. My favorite song is “Just Like You,” which was inspired by a chance encounter Jim had with two musicians from Uganda at a hotel pool. (Cool, huh?)

George had this to say about “Little Miss Floppy Socks” when it came on the car speakers: “I like his songs!” Livi said, “He said, ‘P.U.’ That funny!” And when track 14 came on, George’s comment was, “This is a wonderful song. I like it.” I couldn’t agree more, George!

You can find Swimming in Noodles and listen to sample tracks from the CD online at JimCosgrove.com.

...
Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell

Though I generally prefer a children’s CD that makes you want to shimmy and shake, it is nice to take a little break from all that toe-tapping and enjoy something a little more mellow. Elizabeth Mitchell’s Sunny Day is that deep cleansing breath that keeps us centered. The CD features a variety of voices including Elizabeth’s husband and nine-year-old daughter plus cousins and friends. The tracks include everything from traditional American folk songs to Japanese and Korean nursery songs.

When track 2 came on, Livi’s comment was, “Hey, I yike this song!” (She still can’t figure out how to pronounce her Ls…) And when track 7 was playing, George said, “Mom, this is a different beautiful song. Keep this one, Momma.” Of course the best was track 1. George: “I love the little kid. Mom, do you love the little kid?” Me: “Yep!” George: “Me too…but not love, love, love.” (That kid is too funny!)

You can find Sunny Day, including a video and free song download of “Oh, John the Rabbit” on the Smithsonian Folkways website.

...
Use Your Words by Jeremy Zmuda of Jeremy Plays Guitar

The third CD in this roundup is Jeremy Zmuda’s Use Your Words, a more child-behavioral CD if there is such a thing. The tracks on this CD, which feature everything from jazz to rock to country-folk, are all about helping children learn “social skill development, purposeful language, and emotional concepts without compromising the joy and fun of singing and dancing.” It is definitely a teaching CD, but at least it teaches in a way kids will love. For me, 14 tracks of “parenting” is a bit much, but my kids didn’t seem to notice, so I guess that’s a good thing! They songs on Use Your Words are catchy and do teach some valuable lessons, and if it can get my kids to remember our “House Rules,” then I’m a fan!

You can find Use Your Words and even download the hit single “Jump So High” on JeremyPlaysGuitar.com.

*** We are giving away one gift set that includes a copy of Swimming in Noodles, Sunny Day and Use Your Words! ***

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:

•Leave a comment sharing with us your most favorite children’s song or CD.
•“Like” Jim Cosgrove on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•“Like” Elizabeth Mitchell and Your Are My Flower on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•“Like” Jeremy Plays Guitar on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•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: December 22, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Tracie T., the winner of the CD gift set 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 grew up rinsing out and crushing milk jugs and then saving them for recycling day without ever really considering what those milk jugs would become. Now I know…

Green Toys is a company that uses recycled milk jugs to make toys. Every pound of recycled milk jugs saves on average enough electricity to power a television for 3 whole weeks. Huge, right? Reusing these milk containers also reduces greenhouse gas emissions (learn more here). And that’s just bonuses to the cute and affordable toys Green Toys makes. I was sent the Stacker toy to review. It’s made in the USA and it’s made from 100% recycled plastic milk containers. And we’ve loved playing with it! The pieces nest easily and can stack in any order. The stacker has shown no wear and tear even though we play with it a lot and Holly likes to throw the pieces. It’s a good-looking toy whether it’s on the shelf, or scattered across the floor. The stacker came packaged in only recycled and recyclable materials printed with soy inks. When it arrived, I carefully looked it over for any inconsistencies in the dye or imperfections, but found none! It holds no trace of being made from recyclables.

I’m a big fan on this toy and this company. They carry an excellent selection of toys at completely reasonable prices. From spoons, forks and plates, to dump trucks! Reward yourself and your children for all the recycling you’ve done lately (and teach them what can be made from all your milk jugs) and purchase some Green Toys for the holidays! – Katie

I’m sure you’ve seen or heard of aden+anais muslin swaddlers. They’re definitely one of the hottest baby blankets on the market and a must-have for all Moms. I didn’t have any for my first daughter, but aden+anais sent me a 4-pack from their classic collection to review and help me prepare for my second daughter. They are the softest cotton blankets I’ve run into yet! I absolutely adore them. They got even softer after I washed them. My toddler, Holly, loves throwing them around, spreading them on the floor and wrapping herself in them. They’re so cozy – I can’t blame her! I’m a huge believer in swaddling; Holly was swaddled tightly until she was 9 months. I plan on swaddling baby number two just as much. Aden+anais swaddlers have some great stretch to them so I know I’ll be able to tightly wrap my new baby. And they’re breathable so I can breath easy and not worry about her overheating. Honestly, these are just the best!

Here’s some facts about the company:

aden + anais are winners of the Creative Child Magazine 2007 Seal of Excellence




and two iParenting media awards




All aden + anais baby products feature 100% breathable muslin cotton




All aden + anais baby products feature fun and contemporary designs and colors




Muslin wraps and blankets are safe, affordable and stylish




Original baby wraps can be used for swaddling, covers, and more




Special Muslin cotton provides warmth without overheating

Check out all of the swaddlers and beautiful patterns here. And don’t forget to peruse aden+anais and their other products. I think their dream blankets look darling! I want one! – Katie

Here’s how to enter. You may do as many of these as you like. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

• “Like” aden+anais on facebook


• Tweet about this giveaway (leave a link in your comment)

I’ll draw a winner from the comments and contact her via email. The winner will then have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway closes on December 14th, 2010 (midnight). Good luck!

Congratulations Delaine! You’re the lucky winner!

I’m not a huge jewelry wearer. My mother-in-law refers to me as “granola” because in general, I’m rather low maintenance. But, when my love Locket arrived from Julian & Co, I wore it daily. It’s just right for any occasion from cleaning bathrooms to a Christmas Party. It’s modern, yet sweet. I found the locket to be just the right size and the chain to be the perfect length. My love Locket has become my favourite necklace, second only to the pearl necklace my husband gave me on our wedding day.

Do you know how Julian & Co was started? It all began with a family and a mother who wanted something just right for her son. Tania, the founder, quickly became and expert of precious metals and fashioned the perfect piece for her son, Julian. Soon orders began pouring in and so began Julian & Co. You can read the full story here.

Julian & Co creates so many beautiful pieces, all heirloom quality. Stumped on what to give your Mom for Christmas? Julian & Co has the perfect gift for her! Feeling like your wish list is a little short? Add this initial wax seal fob pendant to it! Make sure you leave this review open for your husband to see, especially since Valentines Day comes so quickly after the holidays! – Katie

***Giveaway! Julian & Co is giving away a love Locket to one lucky reader***

To enter, leave a comment telling me what Julian & Co piece (besides the love Locket) you’d like to give to someone you know. I’ll draw a winner from the comments and contact her via email. The winner will then have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway closes on December 14th, 2010 (midnight).

Congratulations Lise! You’re the lucky winner!

Heather Kraty, the true Island Cowgirl, was born in upstate New York. After graduating from NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology, made her way to St. Martin where she “lived on a catamaran, dove for buried treasure and sold her jewelry on the beach.” The rest of her story is totally amazing…but you’ll have to read it for yourself. (Note: It just might include a business partnership with Sean Penn.) I love Heather’s sources of inspiration:

I find beauty in things that I loved as a child…, the sun on my back, the sand in my toes, trees and the stars, the flowers along the garden path, puppy dogs and hearts…

...

...

Heather sent me the At First Glance necklace to review for our readers. (I have a very demanding job.) The outer circle is engraved with “At first glance, I loved you with a thousand hearts.” And at first glance I loved this necklace. In fact, I immediately took it out of the package—well, after snapping a few photos—and put it on. True love.

Yes, I’m wearing a hoodie and t-shirt, but I have a feeling Island Cowgirl jewelry would look perfect no matter the outfit. It has quickly become one of my favorite pieces. Must be that handcrafted, rustic feel. Kind of speaks to the soul.

The only thing not so perfect about the Island Cowgirl collection is the price tag. Though the earrings I’m good with, I do have a bit harder time with the bracelets and necklaces, but then again, I don’t often invest in jewelry. Maybe it’s about time I did.—Emily

* Promotion! Island Cowgirl is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off purchases made before December 22nd! Visit ShopIslandCowgirl.com and enter CAFE15 at checkout. Offer expires in less than three weeks!

When Sorel approached me to review a pair of boots from their newest collection, I was all over it . . . and all over the website trying to decide which pair to take for a test drive. And let me tell you, it was a really hard decision. Just look at all those super cute styles like the Suka II, Firenzy and Tivoli Low Lace to name a few. But I finally settled on their new Cate the Great boot. Of course the image of the girl in a fancy cocktail dress sporting these stylin’ boots helped seal the deal.

Remember my Looptworks review? It featured a photo of yours truly sporting their Ningxia cowl neck top paired with Sorel’s Cate the Great boots. Here, let me refresh your memory:

How cute are those? And they were warm and comfortable to boot (pun totally intended). Plus I love the little tuft of faux fur accent lining the top. Though the laces do take an extra minute to adjust, they stay put. Compared to my Shilas, this pair feels a little more stiff and almost clunky, like they don’t hug my feet as much nor have as cushy an insole, but the Cate the Greats do have more flair, which means you can pair them with sweat pants or skinny jeans and a dressy top (or cocktail dress if you’re brave enough).

I don’t know anyone else who does winter boot style like Sorel. They seriously have a corner on the market—and if they don’t, they should. Just look at some fun styles for men, women and children:

I know, right? Love them! And yes, Sorel boots will cost you more than the ones you’ll find on the shelf at Target, but they are also a heck of a lot more fabulous and will last you a heck of a lot longer. And you can’t put a price tag on that!—Emily

*** Giveaway! Sorel is giving away one (1) pair of Sorel boots, 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:

•   Visit Sorel.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite style.
•   “Like” Sorel on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you did.
•   Follow Sorel 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 9, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Oliver + S sent me their School Photo Dress pattern to review. I eagerly waited for it in the mail and dove right in as soon as it arrived. The instructions were clear and concise and the dress turned out exactly as it’s pictured on the pattern package. I love that it’s fully lined and I also really liked that on some things the pattern instructions refereed me to the Oliver + S blog rather than giving lengthy printed directions. The dress turned out a bit big in size. I made an 18-24 month size and I would compare the sizing to Gymboree’s.

Liesl and Oliver + S have expanded beyond their adorable patterns. In September, Liesel’s first fabric line, City Weekend, was released by Moda. I received a sample pack of that fabric and it’s absolutely darling. I think the fabric collection has stayed true to the patterns. The colors are spot-on and it was really fun making a doll quilt for Holly’s stocking out of it! I hope to be using more of the City Weekend fabric line in the future.

Even though Oliver + S patterns are on the higher end of pattern pricing, I highly recommend them. I’m so happy with how my School Photo Dress turned out! One method I use to overcome the price is I trace my patterns so that I can reuse it at anytime in any size. Happy sewing! – Katie

***Giveaway! Oliver + S is giving away one pattern – winner’s choice!***

To enter, visit Oliver + S and leave a comment telling me what pattern besides the School Photo Dress you would choose.

I’ll draw the winner randomly and contact her via email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen. Deadline to enter: December 8, 2010 (midnight).

Congratulations Colleen, you’re the lucky winner!

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.

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?

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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)

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