Our new baby girl Lola Olivia has recieved so many lovely gifts since she was born! I am going to try to feature her wearing them as quickly as I can. This darling hat was made by Jennifer Cirka of Jaybird Designs. Jennifer and I have known each other in the boutique community for many years, and I was thrilled to have something special that this talented gal has made for my little girl. It’s definitely going to be a treasured heirloom for Lola. Thanks so much Jennifer!

Visit Jennifer’s website and blog here>
Get your own, custom made, SugarPlum Hat here>
Or make your own with Jennifer’s SugarPlum Hat Crochet pattern!

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

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

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

Lola Olivia on Flickr>>

My talented and beautiful Sis-in-Law Elizabeth is hosting a fab GIVEAWAY on her blog. You can win a Mommy/Daughter baby sling set, made by Liz (her slings are fantastic!!).

Help her celebrate her 200th Blog Post by joining in! Leave a comment on her blog here>> to enter the drawing. She’s drawing a random winner on Aug. 31st!

If you’re interested in purchasing a sling, she makes them in various delicious fabrics $25 Adult size or $18 kids size.

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

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

Cheers and thanks for your support and friendship! – Daria

Yes, it’s true. Nathan and I are expecting baby #5 at the end of December (and yes it was a BIG surprise to us). I’m still trying to wrap my head around the impending big belly, sleepless nights and all of that. After our miscarriage last fall I really thought that I was done, Really I just felt that was it, but this little person has other plans so I’m excited to meet him (or her).

Sadly I’ve been bedridden, hospital prone and severely dehydrated from a pregnancy condition called HyperEmesis Gravidarum. It’s actually quite a series condition, there’s even a website you can check out at http://www.helpher.org which says:

“HG is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the newborn(s).”

And it’s all true! I’ve been so sick, weak, tired, and losing weight rapidly. 12 pounds so far! This has caused me to need to pull back on alot of obligations over the past month or so, I’ve just had no choice. Thankfully I have an amazing family who have dropped their lives to rush to my aid and take care of me and my kiddos. I also have my Nathan who has been like a dream hubby, jumping in with both feet and taking care of all things children and housekeeping. I’m lucky to have such a great man, his Mom taught him well. Needless to say that the past 6-8 weeks or so have been trying and really tough to get through…sniff sniff. I’m hoping as I enter my 2nd trimester that my HyperEmesis will let up a bit and allow me to live a more normal existence but HyperEmesis tends to last the entire 9 months for me. In the meantime I spend most of my time in bed, in pjs, and catching up on every show on tv. ugggh! I miss feeling like me.

So that’s my big news, there’s a little baby on the way but I’m not quite in the excited phase right now. I’m more in the bitter, resentful because I’m so ill phase. Maybe some bloggy friends encouragement will give me the boost I need! XOXO – Daria

Don’t you hate when you go to burp the babe and the little one burps all over the back of your dry-clean only blouse? Or what about making a quick switch to the other side to give your patted-out hand a rest and bluh, the baby burps without any burp cloth protecting you from all that spit up? Well, one mom got so tired of these things that she actually did something about it. She designed her own burp cloths and now is selling them to the rest of us.

Skyoozmee was created for making feeding time a little bit easier and a whole lot cleaner. This unique design covers your chest, back and both your shoulders. The burp cloth will stay in place because it has a fastened velcro in the back to keep it in place. So, besides looking like you are wearing an adult bib, this burp cloth is the answer to keeping YOU clean.

The cloths are made of 2 layers of flannel material. This double layer is nice because nothing can seep through and you don’t get wet. Skyoozmee burp cloths come in 5 different designs including a masculine style, so you can have Dad looking good using his very own bib-like burp cloth.-Amber

Available online at skyoozmee.com.

** Giveaway! Skyoozmee is giving away a burp cloth to a lucky Daily Dish reader. Please visit the skyoozmee website and leave a comment telling us what charities they help. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 20, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

In May of 2007 I reviewed the Baby Traveller Deluxe by gr8x, a diaper bag you definitely can’t judge by its cover. I was so impressed with this machine-washable (yes, machine-washable!) all-in-one diaper bag I was really excited to see their new messenger style diaper bags and super soft swaddling blankets. I was not disappointed!

I received gr8x’s Messenger Diaper Bag in the camo print. The messenger is one of six styles of diaper bags (not including the Baby Traveller Deluxe) from the new line , which includes a hobo slouch, holdall, backpack duo, bucket tote and satchel. The messenger style is by far my favorite and the camo print makes me smile. Why? I’m not so sure except I feel super cool when toting it around! But cool will only get you so far. It’s what’s inside (and outside if you’re talking pockets) that really matters. So what’s inside?

This diaper bag boasts numerous zipped and mesh pockets (in super fun contrasting orange), an insulated pocket for bottles (a must-have in my book), change mat, wipes pocket you can access externally (so cool!), front section for mom’s things, nylon lining (i.e. easy to clean), adjustable shoulder strap, detachable stroller attachments and even a detachable pacifier case. Most of the designs also have rubber feet to protect the bottom (another must-have). What’s great about the camo print is that it’s great for Mom or Dad–if Dad is ever out and about with the kids long enough to warrant a diaper bag. (My husband tries to avoid those types of outings at all cost.) I really couldn’t find anything not to like about this bag, though I did wish it had a padded shoulder strap, but at least the strap they have is softer than most straight-edged vinyl or leather straps.

And now for gr8x’s new Baby Stretch Swaddling Wraps. What makes these swaddling blankets so cool is the word “stretch.” The stretch in these soft cotton blankets comes from the elastane in the fabric. This small amount of elastane allows baby some movement, which means it’s more comfortable for your little one. Your baby will be cozy and warm while not feeling restricted. Plus the elastene also helps soften the fabric when washed, so the more you swaddle, the softer it gets. Just make sure you follow the washing instructions. I threw my blanket in the dryer when the directions specifically said to air dry, and it shrunk a bit in size. To be honest, I read the directions but I rarely hang-dry anything except my sports bras, and even those I’ve dried once in a while! I kind of wanted to see what would happen if it were dried, and as soon as the buzzer sounded, I found out by pulling out a blanket about 1/4th smaller than it was when it went in.

Even after I had made it less than its former self it still was a great size for swaddling and it maintained its stretchiness, which I checked by pulling it this way and that. And yes, the Baby Stretch Swaddling Wraps are pretty dang soft! I can’t think of any other swaddling blankets that have had quite this much stretch and been quite this soft. Way to go, gr8x!

gr8x has a wonderful product line including a changing wallet, feeding pillow and even footmuff for the stroller. And of course there’s always the Baby Traveller Deluxe! –Emily

If you are still toting around diapers and a wipes case sans cute-yet-functional changing tote then it’s time to change things up a bit. The single-pocket-style diapers and wipes case is fine but what do you do when you need a changing mat to cover those changing stations in the store bathroom? And toting around your entire diaper bag when all you really need is enough items for a quick on-the-go change gets really old…really quickly. The perfect solution? The new tactic changing purse from JJ Cole.

As soon as I received JJ Cole’s tactic changing purse in the super cute pink daisy pattern, I immediately removed my Fleurville ModPod from my diaper bag, stocked up the tactic changing purse with a couple diapers, wipes case, onesie and diaper cream and slipped it easily into its proper place. Don’t get me wrong, I love Fleurville’s ModPod but it did take up quite a bit of space in my diaper bag and it was hard to get to the wipes if I needed one for a runny-nose emergency. JJ Cole’s version was more compact and I had much easier access to those oft needed wipes. I included a photo to prove my point! (Yes, I pack a lot of snacks for both the kids and me!)

The tactic changing purse holds diapers, a wipes case and comes with a changing pad that has a slightly padded area for the head. It even includes a wallet organizer for necessities like credit cards, cell phone and even a lip gloss or two. The tactic’s handle is adjustable (I keep it as short as possible since it sits in my diaper bag) and can be attached to a stroller or even carried like a wristlet. It is made from easy-to-clean laminated canvas, another fabulous feature, and comes in four different fun patterns. Oh, and I forgot to mention it has a magnetic closure–a simple feature yet one I love. I can’t find a single thing not to like about the tactic changing purse. Even the price is a good one at just under $30.

Though the same ol’ thing isn’t always a bad thing, switching tactics can make for a refreshing–and space saving–change. I’m a firm believer in that statement now that I own JJ Cole’s tactic changing purse! –Emily

Keeping your baby warm and stylish is sometimes a challenge in cold weather. Up here in Canada we struggle with the freezing weather (trust me). I recently discovered an amazing new product that keeps baby’s legs warm, and protected while still looking ultra cute.

I was sent the most adorable pair of purple butterfly Leg Huggers from a company called Agoo. They come in precious patterns for the discriminating toddler, and feature a bevy of benefits. The first is that Leg Huggers are made from 100% sustainable Bamboo fibers, I love that aspect of this product. If you have a child who is potty training, then Leg Huggers are an excellent option to keep babies legs covered but allow for quick access to diapers, pull-ups and training pants.

Leg Huggers are also made to cater to girls on the go. If your baby is crawling, climbing or burning up the living room dance floor, Leg Huggers will protect those tender legs and still keep looking sweet. As some of you know, our family is in the process of adopting a little 2 year old girl. She was our tester with the Leg Huggers and they definitely fit her criteria. I appreciated that no matter how active she was while wearing them, the Leg Huggers stayed up but they didn’t hug too tightly either. The bonus was that our Little Miss looked perfectly precious in them and we will now need to stock up on several patterns.

If affordability is on your mind, then you’ll be pleased to hear that Leg Huggers sell for an excellent price point of $10. They are one size fits all, and are ultra soft and comfy. So go on and give those pudgy little legs a hug, with Leg Huggers from Agoo. – Daria

Giveaway** – Leg Huggers is offering a lucky Boutique Cafe reader a pair of their amazing Leg Huggers! To enter simply post a comment and share with us which design you prefer from their line of Leg Huggers. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 26, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Hold onto your heartstrings ladies. This precious infant/baby pettiskirt is sure to give you heart palpitations, as it did to me. Oh my, breathtaking!

Purchase this sweet Belle Ame pettiskirt on www.sweetgirlboutique.com

**Sweet Girl Boutique has a promo running in our 2008 Holiday Gift Guide for 10% off your order + Free Gift Wrapping. Use promo code: BCGIFT

Do you listen in to The Savvy Organizer podcast? Our Savvy host Maja is on Baby Watch this week, and could really use some good vibes sent her way. Please stop by The Savvy Organizer and post an encouraging comment for my dear friend and podcast partner Maja.

Keep watching for updates about when the stork drops off her new little bundle!

It’s Retro Week on the Daily Dish! We’re posting some of our fave past reviews to share with you. Discover (or re-discover) great products that we’re still loving and talking about years later! Welcome to Retro week.

Let’s face it, changing diapers is not the most glamorous or exciting job in the world. That’s why I’m so happy to have discovered the Ubi changing table. The Ubi to me, is like the swiss army knife of change tables due to it’s many handy features!

I was sent the Deluxe Ubi Table with natural wood base and “lime coco beach” cover. This swanky model also sports the most awesome diaper dispenser right where you need it, under the baby. The diapers push down into a spring loaded system that keeps several diaper right within reach. I loved that aspect to the table, it just makes so much sense that you shouldn’t have to stretch and reach to find a diaper – it should be right at your fingertips whenever you need it. The thing I loved most about the Ubi is the fastener strips that quickly and easily hold the diaper in place. It was so simple to change diapers with the fastener strips, just pull up a diaper from the dispenser and stretch the tabs up to attach on the strip. They hold firm despite any wiggles from your little one and the diaper change is stress free. Read the rest of this entry »