I love those baby leg warmers. They come in handy when it’s winter and all your daughter wants to wear are skirts. They’re also great for covering arms when all the winter pj’s are dirty and short-sleeve pj’s are the only thing left in the dresser drawer. But the one drawback for me when wearing them on the legs is the need to add a pair of socks. (I don’t know about your kids’ feet but my kids’ feet get a little juicy in their shoes without socks.)

Perhaps that’s why I love the designs from Rock-a-Thigh Baby. This company has designed a line of eco-friendly thigh-high socks that stay in place. With designs for boys and girls and sizes from newborn to four years, Rock-a-Thigh Baby has you your children’s legs covered! The comfortable cuffs are designed so they don’t roll down or twist while the ribbed panels at the ankle and arch help keep socks in place. (Yay for stay-put socks!) These socks also have no-skid grips that provide traction (a must on slippery wood floors like ours) and size (a must for moms washing multiple size socks at the same time). Even niftier than all that, Rock-a-Thigh Baby socks are made in the USA and are an “environmentally friendly, sustainable cotton-blend textile product made from soft top-quality, 100% ‘pre-consumer’ yarn.

So do they live up to their thigh-high claims? They sure do! The company sent Livi a pair of their neopolitan socks to test for our Daily Dish readers. She had no problem wearing these cute pink, brown and white striped socks.

And I loved having only one thing to put on her legs–no layering leg warmer and socks. When it comes to getting kids dressed, I’m all for easy. Plus Rock-a-Thigh Baby’s socks kept her legs warm yet I didn’t have tights to pull down for diaper changes. Toward the end of the day the tops started to curl just slightly, but they never rolled and never slid down. I’d say they passed the chunky-toddler-leg test! A leg warmer and sock in one? Genius!

Rock-a-Thigh Baby will soon add sizes up to about eight years. So cool! You can view their entire collection at RockaThighBaby.com. –Emily

*** Giveaway! Rock-a-Thigh Baby is giving away one pair of children’s socks, winners 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 RockaThighBaby.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite style.
•   Become a fan of Rock-a-Thigh Baby on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•   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: March 16, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

I love a non-cheesy personalized children’s tee as much as the next mom but this type of tee can be hard to find. Fortunately for you–and your little one–I discovered Hopscotch Tees on Cool Mom Picks and knew I had to feature them on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish. With a tee that said “Pirate {enter your son’s name here}” how could I not?

Hopscotch Tees sent George their Roboman t-shirt and I should’ve paid to have them overnight it. Once George had picked out his tee he asked me “Is that my robot shirt?” every time I grabbed the mail. When it finally arrived that kid had the package open (with a little ribbon help from me) in no time. I wish I could’ve captured his expression when he pulled his “robot shirt” out of the package but these photos will have to do:

…

Did you see the super cute lollipop? Yeah, I thought so. Yummy treat packaged with an equally yummy shirt. George couldn’t wait to wear his shirt but I made him save it until he could show it off at school, but the wait was well worth it (see photo at right). The shirt held up well at preschool and equally well after multiple washings. The shirt is super soft, which is perfect for a little boy who doesn’t deal well with shirts that might be even the least bit itchy. It’s definitely one of George’s favorite tees (and mine)!

Hopscotch Tees has styles for both girls and boys on its site, my favorite girl tee being Sugar Shop. And if (when) we order another one for George we’ll definitely add the Tackle Shop tee to his collection! –Emily

* Promotion! Hopscotch Tees is offering Daily Dish readers free gift wrap AND a crystal or long-sleeve upgrade on their orders! Simply mention Boutique Cafe when checking out. Roboman powers, activate!

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

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

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

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

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

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

*** Giveaway! Hank & JoJo is giving away one box set of their Retro Baby Tube Socks! Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•    Visit HankandJoJo.com and leave a comment telling us you did (we trust you to be honest).
•    Become a fan of Hank & JoJo on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you’re their newest fan.
•    Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•    Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: December 15, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Kari, the winner of the Hank & JoJo giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

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

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

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

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

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

Even at the age of thirty-something I find myself saying things like, “When I grow up I’ll travel all over the world,” or, “When I grow up I will drive something other than a ‘95 Odyssey.” I obviously have a lot of growing up to do if those are the grown-up things about which I’m most concerned. Don’t get me wrong–my parents taught me what’s important in life but somehow that gets lost somewhere in my grownup life. What I need is a little reminder, and thanks to When I Grow Up, I get one every time George wears his new Value Statement tee.

When I Grow Up offers a line of tees reminiscent of our childhood years when we found wonder in simple things like nature, make believe and laughter. With an emphasis on what’s most important no matter what stage of life you’re in, When I Grow Up’s Value Statement tees for children reinforce four strong core values using very simple phrases:

• “i will…plant a tree” (Earth)
• “i will…walk in someone else’s shoes” (Compassion)
• “i will…eat my vegetables” (Health)
• “i will…give” (Charity)

Who knew something so simple could be so powerful? The inspiration for the tees came from Randy Pausch’s Journeys lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” Kat Henderson, the mom behind When I Grow Up:

In his lecture he talks about his childhood dreams, enabling the dreams of others and how we can do the same. Immediately, I thought how easy it is to go through everyday life without defining what matters most to us. Then, I thought of my son and my responsibility to be sure he grows up with strong core values.

It’s not surprising When I Grow Up is an environmentally friendly company. The clothing is certified 100% organic cotton and uses water-based inks, while all of the company’s paper products and shipping supplies use recyclable and recycled materials.

Though George enjoys wearing his Earth tee (I wanted to snap a photo but totally spaced it), I am probably the bigger fan. I love that it causes me to stop for a moment and think about the environment. I find myself more conscious about my recycling efforts that day and wondering if when I finally grow up I will be nicer to our earth than I am now. For George it’s all about literally planting a tree; for me it’s a reminder that I can make a difference…and should make a difference. Like it says on When I Grow Up’s site: “Wear it. Teach it. Live it.” George is going to wear it, I am going to teach it and we will both live it! –Emily

* Promotion!!! When I Grow Up is offering Daily Dish readers free shipping on their order. To receive the free shipping discount, email design name and size to info{at}whenigrowupiwill.com.

I don’t need to tell you how many brands of children’s shoes exist–the choices are endless and of course we all have our favorites. When it comes to soft-soled shoes many of us think of the typical Robeez-style bootie, but let me change your way of thinking by introducing you to ScooterBees.

ScooterBees shoes have a patent-pending design that allows the shoes to adjust to and fit the variety of widths and “chunkiness” (instep thickness) of each little foot. The company is all about the unique shape of baby and toddler feet and so the design focuses on their healthy development and protection. ScooterBees also us committed to the environment; they company uses only the highest quality, environmentally friendly materials such as recycled fibers derived from both post-industrial and post-consumer sources, including PET soda and water bottles. And all ScooterBees shoes are manufactured domestically in San Francisco, CA.

The health of your little one’s feet and the environment is all well and good but what sets ScooterBees shoes apart from the rest? Well, not only are they soft soled, durable, machine washable (gotta love machine-washable shoes!) and easy to take on and off, they are educational. Yes, I said educational. Each pair of shoes are designed with your child’s mind in mind. They have a little “story” complete with illustrations that help stimulate their imagination. The artwork is handcrafted with non-toxic paint and the shoes can be worn with different “pages” complete with colorful letters, numbers and images.

Our little Livi received the pink Growing Bird pair of ScooterBees and they are truly like no other pair of infant/toddler shoes she owns. They are super soft yet durable and I love how adjustable they are–heaven knows my kids have chunky, little feet! And being able to change around the flaps makes it so much fun! It’s like finding a little surprise every time she wears the shoes! I am a big fan of children’s products that are parent friendly, child friendly and to top it all off, environmentally friendly. It’s a hard combination to pull off but ScooterBees does it–and does it with style! –Emily

*** Giveaway! ScooterBees is giving away one pair of shoes, winner’s choice! Please visit ScooterBees.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite style of shoes; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July21, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* For an extra entry tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with the URL of your tweet!

* Congratulations to Gina S., the winner of the ScooterBees giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Daria meets with with fabric designer and dear friend Patty Young at Houston Quilt Market. Patty shares her incredible Andalucia Fabric displayed in so many mediums which is taking the sewing world by storm – you have to get some it’s gorgeous! Thank you Patty – We’re so Proud of you! (to see previous LIVE interview with Patty here as well.)

** To VIEW our new Video Interview – click the “watch the show” button” or subscribe to us in iTunes! Thanks everyone.

-->