Giving Away 100 Tubs to Parents In A New Product Testing Challenge
Are you a new parent? PUJ is looking for you!! We love to share great opportunities with our readership, and this is one you don’t want to miss:

Vancouver, WA – November 2, 2009 – Puj, a leading designer of modern baby products that help Simplify Parenthood, is putting its new Puj Tub to the test, literally. The company is looking for 100 parents to act as official product testers for its new Puj Tub. The Puj Tub has been hailed as one of the best baby products to come on the market in years, offering a revolutionary new way to bathe a baby. With this new Puj 100 Tub Challenge, parents can see for themselves how easy bathing a baby with the Puj Tub can be.

Parents everywhere know how anxiety-inducing bathing a newborn can be – such a delicate creature slipping and sliding can quickly cause inner panic. With the Puj Tub, parents are able to bathe their baby in a standard sink so there’s no bending over a big, awkward bathtub. The Puj Tub cradles the baby in a cushiony, non-absorbent and non-slip closed cell foam that is also PVC and BPA free. And once the bath is done, the Puj Tub dries fast and folds flat.

The Puj Tub will be available for purchase at the end of November at a price of $39.99; however, through the Puj 100 Tub Giveaway, parents with a blog can go to the Puj site and apply to receive the tub for free in exchange for being a product tester and sharing their honest views on the product. The 100 selected winners will also be listed as official product testers on www.pujbaby.com . In this economy, giving consumers an opportunity to try a product at no cost is welcome news. For more information on the Puj 100 Tub Giveaway please visit www.pujbaby.com

Puj designs products for parents with the focus on making their lives easier. As parents and designers, Katie and Ben Richardson know how wonderful yet challenging parenting can be and have set out to design products that Simplify Parenthood. Having designed products for numerous name brand companies, it just seemed natural to begin designing products that helped them raise their own children. From shoes that fit baby’s feet perfectly to the latest innovation in baby products, Puj Baby makes parents lives easier. For more information on the Puj Tub and Puj please visit www.pujbaby.com.

Welcome to show #115, our celebratory podcast for 5 years of Boutique Cafe goodness! This journey has been a real joy to go on with our our listeners and readers, I can’t thank you enough for the support you have shown for the website, podcasts and for me personally as well. This episode Daria shares her thoughts on 5 years of podcasting and supporting mompreneurs. We share LOADS & LOADS of Boutique News about sales/promotions and great finds, and also give info on how you could be our very LUCKY listener to win our 5th Birthday Ultimate PRIZE PACK!. As a tribute to Patrick Swayze, who died yesterday after a heroic battle with Cancer, we play a song called “Jennifer Grey” by Christa Couture inspired by the movie “Dirty Dancing” and featuring some favorite images of him. Thanks to Maggie of Boutique Graphics for our Birthday Banner!
All Boutique News Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Gocks Frocks
Unstrung Sisters
Taygalook
SoFunFabrics
La*Tee*Da*Kids
Genevieve Gail (mention Boutique Cafe at checkout for Free Shipping this month!!
Free Forged showing at the USB, along with several @etsydallas members. @makestudio is sponsoring the show.
Urban Street Bazaar
GirleeGoodz

***5th Birthday GIVEAWAY*** – ONE LUCKY listener will receive a HUGE Prize Pack from our Boutique Cafe friends!

Prizes Contributors include –
Patty Young 6-piece fat quarter set of her fabric AND a Lil’ Chef sewing pattern
Tote and Tee – custom initial tee any style of winner’s choice
Carla Hegeman Crim – CD loaded with complete Scientific Seamstree Ebooks (valued at over $100)
Rosa Dolce Designs by Priscilla Resendez – set of 5 headbands…halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, valentines day, & 4th of july
Christa Couture – copy of her most recent album “The Wedding Singer and The Undertaker” & one-of-a-kind “Christa Couture Couture” shirts
Pink Papillon Jewelry by MaryAnn Daniels Springer- gift card for a custom cuff!
Sandi Henderson – set of patterns, and a collection of her gift boxes
Lee Coulter – his new album!
Frogs and Flowers boutique – an “I spy” bag and an apron The fit tweens up to ladies (one size fits all)
Greggy Girl - a plethra of Greggy Girl items and a Greggy Girl Set!!
You Can Make This – $50 pre-packaged bundle of ebooks from YCMT
$30 Gift Certificate to Miss Label.com
Boutique Cafe free banner advertising package for 6 months!
Amy Butler Design – a selection of her sewing patterns and stationery!!
And more prizes are coming in today as well!!

Several ways to win:
* Comment in our shownotes =1 entry
* Blog about Boutique Cafe and share the link = 1 entry
* Share this post on Twitter and mention @BoutiqueCafe (then come back and post the link here) = 1 entry
* Share this post on Facebook with your friends (then come back and post the link here) = 1 entry
* Join our Boutique Cafe Facebook Fan Group and post about this show = 1 entry

Drawing will take place on October 1st, 2009 at Midnight MST!
Boost This Giveaway on PRIZEY>> (click here, then press VOTE UP to give our special giveaway even more attention)
WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!!!!!! Congratulations to Mayya @ Sew Chic and Unique on winning our Ultimate Birthday Prize Pack from Boutique Cafe with prizes worth well over $500!! Thank you to everyone for entering and for your support. We love to do hot giveaways at Boutique Cafe and this one was definitely Smokin’

The Apronista is having the sweetest festival on her popular blog and you still have time to be a part of it!! Simply visit this link and enter your blog address. Now you’re signed up in the Linky directory to recieve all kinds of blog attention. Don’t forget to host a Giveaway of your own, prizes are a BEAUTIFUL thing!!

**Giveaway:For our own little contribution we’re going to offer one lucky commenter a FEATURE article on ApronADay!! That’s right, if you’ve been hankering to get noticed, we’ll share your (handmade or apron related) blog or shop with our readers and give you a little boost of attention. All you have to do is leave a comment here along with your url and email address. We’ll draw the winner at Midnight on August 7th!!

Good Luck and have fun visiting all the lovely blogs participating in Apronfest this year! Loads to see and win – its a feast for the eyes!

When I think of Hapari I think “happy” and not just because the two words sound so much alike. Swimsuit season always brings with it a few nasty side effects: the dreaded glare of the fluorescent lights in the dress room; the shock of pale white skin; the sheer exhaustion of trying on numerous suits to finally find one you like well enough to wear in public. Okay, I’ll stop there before I break out in hives!

Fortunately I’ve discovered a line of swimsuits sure to turn this year’s swimsuit shopping into a much more pleasant experience. Hapari Swimwear offers a fabulously stylish, flattering-yet-modest line of tankinis and bikinis sure to keep those nasty side effects at bay. You can mix and match any bottom with any top and every tankini top can be worn three different ways: halter, tank, and criss cross!

Though their two most popular tankinis are the GNO V-neck tankini (pictured above, left) and the Mango Mudd Sport tankini (pictured at right), I chose the Blue Luau V-neck tankini (v-neck styles look better on me since I have broad shoulders) with the coordinating bottom to test for this review–I just couldn’t resist the red with white polka dots! I had totally planned to wear this while visiting my girlfriend in Florida but it rained all but one day I was there, and the one day we went to the beach I was going for all the sun I could get (i.e. I wore my tiniest bikini–and fried my stomach in the process, but that’s another story!).

I did try on the suit and found myself actually enjoying what I saw in the mirror rather than cringing from it. The suit fit really well and was truly flattering. I could tell it was made from high-quality fabric and with high-quality construction. I also checked out one of Hapari’s unique features: pockets for silicone breast inserts or “Illusions.” If I want to look anything like the model in the picture I better pick up a pair!

Hapari also has swimsuits for men and junior girls and boys. One other fun fashion find from Hapari is their Shores line. Shores is a collection of half tees that “provide a comfortable layered look without the extra bunching and bulk of a full-length layered tee.” I am really excited about this tee and here’s why. I have a couple dress under which I have to wear a cami or layering tee and every time that tank or tee starts riding up under my dress. By the time a couple hours have passed my waist looks twice as thick as it did when I first got dressed! I’m constantly going into the bathroom to pull it back down. So if your first thought of Shores was mine (”a half shirt? didn’t those go out of style a long time ago?”) I beg you to think twice. With summer’s full-on heat almost here do you really want multiple layers over your entire torso?

I believe a good swimsuit is worth the investment and Hapari Swimwear makes more than a few good suits. If you are looking for stylish tankini swimwear visit Hapari.com. Money may not buy happiness but a good swimsuit sure will! –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! Hapari Swimwear is giving away one tankini and one Shore tee, winner’s choice! Please visit Hapari.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite swimsuit style. Please include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: June 12, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Lisa S., the winner of the Hapari 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!

From jewelry to picture frames the Daily Dish has had plenty of reviews featuring personalized products, but until today we had yet to review a personalized food item–and I’m not talking about those giant frosted cookes from Mrs. Fields. This one is tasty, my friends…oh, so tasty! And like the title of this review, when it comes to MixMyGranola I can’t help but channel KC & The Sunshine Band.

Ever browsed the granola bins at Whole Foods or the granola shelves at your local supermarket? Though both offer a wonderful variety of mixes have you ever wished you could add a little dried pineapple to one or remove the cashews in another? That’s how MixMyGranola was started–three friends all describing their perfect granola mix. MixMyGranola was started in 2008 and is taking the granola world by storm, one personalized mix at a time. Why is it so popular? Three reasons: it’s easy; it’s super yummy; and it’s all about you.

Easy: Here’s how easy it is (and I know because I’ve created two mixes already). Simply choose a healthy granola base and add your favorite ingredients (good luck keeping it under five when you’re offered dried blackberries, macadamia nuts and pomegranate cordials). That’s it. MixMyGranola will then mix your order and ship it anywhere in the U.S. You get the can, pop the lid and pour either directly into your mouth (tried that one) or into a cereal bowl, yogurt cup, or other “traditional” container. The possibilities–like the mixes–are endless!

Tasty: I can state for a fact the ingredients are yummy. MixMyGranola let me create two mixes, which I named Low-fat Choco Cranberry and Choco Fruity Vanilla. I wanted to try the low-fat granola and it didn’t disappoint. Of course the addition of mini chocolate chips helped. Yum! And my Choco Fruity Vanilla had the hugest chunks of sweet, dried pineapple EVER. My only regret was not ordering twice as much! I’ve already emptied the can of Choco Fruity Vanilla and am almost out of the other. You better believe I’ll be ordering more! My favorite snack is now a container of low-fat yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup of granola (see image at left). I’m addicted!

All about you: Self-explanatory. You choose the base, you choose the ingredients. Enough said.

I’d tell you what my family thought of MixMyGranola but unfortunately for them I didn’t share any. I’m hoping I can be a little less selfish the next time around but I highly doubt it. I take my personalized granola very seriously. I can’t do MixMyGranola’s ginormous ingredients list justice; you’ll have to create your own mix and check it out yourself! Believe me, you’ll be channeling KC & The Sunshine Band before you’re through. –Emily

*** Giveaway! MixMyGranola is giving away a $20 gift certificate to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Please visit MixMyGranola.com and start creating a mix, then leave a comment on this post telling us which granola base and ingredient(s) you chose. Include a valid email address for the drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 21, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* For an extra entry, mention this giveaway on Twitter and leave a separate comment with the URL to your tweet! (To find your URL simply click on the timestamp from your tweet.)

* Congratulations to Sandra, the winner of the MixMyGranola 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!

Lizzy Anne is at it again – she’s giving away this GORGEOUS “Pink-a-Boo” quilt made with Tanya Whelan’s “Darla” line of fabrics. To enter visit her blog and discover several ways to increase your chances of winning!!

In addition to the sweet as can be baby quilt, you can win a pattern from Tanya Whelan herself. Don’t miss out on this terrific Team-Up! Get cozy with your Lizzy Anne Original – Good Luck everyone!

Yes, Mother’s Day is this weekend and yes, if you’re shopping online you should have done your shopping by now. But I know a few of you out there are still on the hunt for the perfect Mother’s Day gift and may have a forgiving mom like mine who’s okay with a gift that’s a few days late (as long as she gets a card, chocolate and an IOU on Mother’s Day). If that’s the case then you need to check out the fabulous products from CreatedByMom.com.

And that’s the main reason I waited until today to feature this site–it is PERFECT for Mother’s Day because everything on CreatedByMom.com is made by moms. The site carries over 50 lines all designed by moms and boasts over 400 unique products with the offerings growing daily. (This is where I should probably disclose that georgie tees is one of CreatedByMom.com’s vendors so I am a little biased.) But even if we weren’t on her site I would still love the product selection and more importantly the story behind the site:

The CreatedByMom.com Chic Boutique was created by a mom to support moms everywhere, creating what they love and succeeding, selling their products in a mom-friendly environment.

CreatedByMom.com began with the perfect recipe of 50% inspiration and 50% desperation. After watching many friends make fabulous products and then start their own businesses Quinn Curtis had a brilliant idea: open an online store that makes it easier for moms to sell and buy each other’s products, making a one-stop shop for consumers to also support moms and their creations.

This site has everything from yummy lip balm to stunning jewelry to gorgeous handbags to one of my favorites, the Boot Scoot Bike. I love the Scribbly Tee pictured here and apparently the handmade tutus are a big hit!

CreatedByMom.com works using drop-ship accounts and quite possibly has the lowest fees and commission around. I remember going to pay the commission, thinking it was one amount, and having Quinn correct me telling it was another–almost half of what I was going to pay! One of the best perks about working with CreatedByMom.com is the 20% discount mom vendors receive on all other CreatedByMom.com products! Gotta love a good–no, great–discount!

Quinn doesn’t stop at providing a site for moms to showcase their products. She is all about empowering creativity and helping moms turn their dreams into reality. This July CreatedByMom.com is launching the first annual Moms Who Make It conference! The theme of the conference is “empowering creativity in life & business” and is an event you won’t want to miss. With our very own Daria form Boutique Cafe and Kim from YouCanMakeThis.com as keynote speakers, a variety of timely classes from blogging and social media to how to get press for your product and an awesome panel, you’ll be counting down the days until July 16th (around 68)! The Moms Who Make It conference will be held in South Jordan, Utah on Thursday, July 16th. Tickets will be on sale soon and you can visit MomsWhoMakeIt.com for more information.

Interested in keeping up with the latest happenings at CreatedByMom.com? You can connect with the LinkedIn group here, follow CBM on Twitter (@createdbymom) or visit the Facebook page here. This Mother’s Day it’s all about moms…and mom-made products! –Emily

*** Giveaway! In honor of Mother’s Day I am giving away a SoYoung Mother diaper bag in chocolate! (Read my review about this fabulous diaper bag here.) To enter visit CreatedByMom.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite mom-made product other than the ones I’ve already mentioned. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: May 15, 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 link to your tweet below!

* Congratulations to Clara M., the winner of the SoYoung Mother 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!

Time to spike that hair and get groovin’! If you have a little Rocker in your family, they deserve to wear some of the most hip and funky threads available. For this reason I suggest clothing and pajamas from Hip on Sunset, a company who cater to tots who like edgy, trendy stylings.

I contacted Hip on Sunset to review some happening clothing for my little rockers. What I discovered was superior quality, along with the funky vibe I was looking for. You’ll treasure these tattoo inspired designs, as well as the cozy softness of each 100% cotton piece. Each item is hand screen printed, and has an original rock design, with a related message on the back such as: “i will float with butterflies” and “someday i’ll have my own rock show”

An additional plus of dealing with Hip on Sunset is the option for gift wrapping. And you can rest easy knowing that Hip On Sunset clothing is Certified CPSIA Compliant as well.

Your little darlings will be Hip On Sunset, or any street they walk down! Rock on Little Babies, Rock On! – Daria
GIVEAWAY!! – Hip on Sunset is generously giving away a pair of pajamas (winners choice!) to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Simply comment on this post in order to qualify. Winner will be drawn on May 12, 2009 at midnight. We will contact the winner via email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

What woman doesn’t love jewelry on Mother’s Day? Okay, so maybe I prefer dark chocolate once in a while, but I still can’t resist something silver and shiny, especially if it’s been engraved with something meaningful.

I have enjoyed purchasing gifts from Things Remembered in the past, including a family ornament and necklaces for my daughter and her best friend, so I was excited when I heard about the company’s new line of charms. Charm Story is a new line of 50 exclusive silver-plated engravable charms designed specifically with personalization in mind. They offer “space to engrave a name, date or special message to make each charm a unique reflection of mom.” For example, if your mom is a runner give her a charm symbolizing her first marathon and engrave the name, date and finishing time of the race. If you’d rather tell her how she’s your strength, add a charm representing the Chinese symbol for strength and engrave the date of a moment she most inspired you.

Things Remembered sent me a sample charm bracelet and it is absolutely beautiful! (Yes, it’s even better than dark chocolate.) I chose the Clover Wax Seal charm and had them engrave one of my favorite quotes on the back: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” They also added a few other fun charms, including the Wax Seal Mom charm with “Live, Laugh, Love,” the Purse charm engraved with Boutique Cafe’s tagline (I’m a sucker for a great pair of heels!) and the August Birthstone Heart charm. You can see the photos of this gorgeous bracelet in this review. I’m already wondering which charm I’ll add next–maybe three more birthstone charms for my other three children!

Charm Story offers assorted mom and grandma charms, photo charms, cause charms, hobby charms, travel charms and even pet charms. Each charm, charm bracelet and necklace retails for just $20. However, Things Remembered is offering the bracelet or necklace with one “First Chapter” starter charm–heart, circle, star or dog-tag-shaped charm–for just $30. (Engraving is a small, additional cost.) I love a gift that is truly unique and tailored to the recipient. Things Remembered truly has mom in mind this Mother’s Day. A beautiful piece of jewelry from Charm Story by Things Remembered combined with your thoughtfulness and a little personalization will definitely make her Mother’s Day. (If you really want to be the “favorite,” pair it with some chocolate!) –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! Things Remembered is giving away one charm bracelet and charm, winner’s choice! Please visit the Charm Story page on the Things Remembered website. Leave a comment on telling us which charm you like best and what you would engrave on the back. (Please include a valid email address.)

*** For an extra entry, follow Things Remembered on Twitter! Send a DM to tremembered letting them know you signed on as a follower thanks to this post. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and the list of new followers provided by Things Remembered. We will contact the winner via email. Deadline: May 11, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Bing Y., the winner of the Things Remembered 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 like cards. I should like cards because one of my businesses is creating greeting cards! I am naturally attracted to paper and cards. I can’t get enough! I have a trained eye on paper greetings. I notice all the details and I do mean EVERY detail. The colors, the spine of the card, the graphics, the greeting, the packaging, etc…it gets exhausting just looking b/c it quickly turns into a serious review.

So, this particular review is close to my heart, because I seriously heart cards!

I love seeing new clever things that I think I wish I woulda…
I wish I woulda done a series of shouts outs like cardsharks did. They are a simple to the point cards that have punchy colors and fun designs. Cute to send and decorative enough to keep and display in a frame. I especially love the LOVE card and think that could be adorable for a valentines display or a sweet sentiment to give to anyone who makes your heart happy.

The alphabet series is another one of those ideas that I think…ohhh I wish i woulda…
Hanging these cards in a nursery or a playroom is an inexpensive way to decorate the walls and a great way to add a theme to the room. The alphabet cards collection includes all the letters of the alphabet, so if you decide you don’t want to use it for art in a room…send the letter A to your aunt annie or use t for a thank you card. So many uses for these cards and it’s always great to have cute cards on hand. With Mother’s Day just around the corner you may want to stock up and get some cool cards that can be sent or kept.-Amber

Available online at card-sharks.net

*** Giveaway!!! Cardsharks is giving away a collection of cards to one lucky Daily Dish reader. Please visit cardsharks website and leave a comment here telling us your favorite card series; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline:May 4, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

When it comes to choosing your handbag for a shopping trip with your girlfriends or a night out on the town you often find yourself thinking eeny, meeny, miny, moe, which purse is the way to go? But once you’ve found eenamaria you won’t find yourself thinking that any longer!

eenamaria (aka “the urban nomad”) “walks faster because she knows where she’s going. impatient and enterprising, she’s the one you envy as she glides past you on her motorcycle in gridlocked traffic. she lives by different rules, rules that set her free.” I’m not sure if this eenamaria is a real person, but I so want to be her. Since I can’t actually be eenamria I will make do by channeling her sexy, secure, free-style spirit through one of her fabulous handbags.

Chelsea Boi, eenamaria’s current collection, can best be described with two words: eye candy. The vibrant colors, sleek styles and simple designs convey a fun chic-meets-street feel. The I Mean Bizness and Workin Weekend Baby totes are used and loved by moms for fashionably carrying all of their their children’s needs and even for use as a diaper bag.

I received the All Night Clubber (the handbag, not the party boy) in gray. Bigger than a clutch but not so big it takes over your lap, the All Night Clubber is perfect when you need to grab and go. It has room for a wallet, cell phone, compact, lip glosses in every shade and car keys with some room to spare. Though I love the yummy cherry red color, I chose gray so it could easily go with any outfit. Plus I already have a red handbag and I like variety! Something else I learned about eenamaria? She pays attention to detail.The silver hardware is solid and solid and the bag is made really well.

Most of us have a collection of your typical, nondescript handbags and totes, which means more often than not we’re not living a sexy, secure, free-style life. Let eenamaria change things up a bit. Just before your next girls’ night out you may find yourself thinking eeny, meeny, miny, moe, sexy is the way to go!

*** Giveaway!!! eenamaria is giving away a Murse or Purse handbag from the Chelsea Boi collection (pictured at left)! Please visit eenamaria’s collection on eBags and leave a comment telling us your favorite eenamaria bag; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 30, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Crystal B., the winner of the eenamaria 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!

By now you may have already seen the fabulous Waste-Free Lunch Kit from Kids Konserve. I’ve seen it reviewed on a handful of my favorite sites and yet I can’t get enough of this lunch kit that helps kids “choose to reuse!” And with Earth Day less than a week away, I felt this was a timely review for our Daily Dish readers.

Did you know:

• The average child generates 67 pounds of lunchtime trash per year?
• 38 billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills each year and take 700 years before they start to decompose?
• Trash is often mistaken for food and eaten by ocean life?
• 1.5 million barrels of oil are used in making plastic baggies and plastic bottles each year?

Those are some pretty sobering statistics, but one company is doing something about it–and helping kids do their part to reduce, reuse and recycle.

I received the Kids Konserve Waste-Free Lunch Kit in the super cute butterfly print. Before my girls even knew what it was they were fighting over who would use it first. I have never seen them so excited to take their lunch to school–heck, they were taking it even when it was chicken drummies on the hot-lunch menu! The kit includes a food cozy (a sort of thin, foldable plastic sandwich holder), two stainless steel round food containers, a stainless steel water bottle and cloth napkin inside a recycled cotton sack. The combination of the stainless steel and fun green and white print make for a pretty darn stylish lunch kit and a much preferable option to the old Barbie standby!

Kids Konserve uses food-grade stainless steel, the cleanest non-leaching and safest material in which you can place your food. And the reusable containers mean you’ll cut back on the use of plastic baggies, plastic water bottles, paper napkins, juice boxes…I could go on and on. That also means cutting back on the $$$ associated with all that uncool, landfill-filling stuff. I found my girls actually packed themselves healthier lunches when using the Waste-Free Lunch Kit. Go figure! And feel free to use the lunch kit items together or separetely. Those round containers are the perfect size for on-the-go snacks for little ones.

You have to check out Kids Konserve’s new Party Pak. This awesome waste-free kit is great for classrooms, picnics and birthday parties and includes (25 each): plates, tumblers, forks, knives and spoons in three cotton drawstring bags. I love the idea of not buying Costco-size packages of paper plates and plastic silverware!

Help your kids (and you) “choose to reuse” by incorporating the Waste-Free Lunch Kit from Kids Konserve into your daily school or daycare lunch routine. See? It’s not that hard to make a difference! –Emily

** Giveaway!!! Kids Konserve is giving away one Kids Konserve lunch kit! To enter please read the story about Rose and the “Garbage Patch” and share your voice for change. All comments will be entered to win. The drawing will take place on Earth Day, April 22, 2009.

* Promotion! Kids Konserve is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their purchase! Simply enter the code “boutique” when checking out from KidsKonserve.com. Offer expires May 31, 2009.

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.

So it’s not typical that you walk into a kitchen and make comments about how cute (that’s right cute) someone’s knives are, but, it actually has become a typical statement at my house.

I recently received this unique line of kitchen knives and butcher block that is so stylish that the knives are being called cute! I don’t know if it is the simplicity of the wood block or the rubber red grips on the knives that are stealing the attention away from my colorful Kitchenaid, but, these knives are definitely making the cut when it comes to style.

The 4 slot storage block comes with the essential knives: 3 1/4 paring knife, 5 1/2 boning knife, 7′ utility knive, and the 8 1/2 chef’s knife. So, the cute red grip is actually my favorite thing about each knife. It has a new design unlike any other handle that provides superior comfort and control. The grip doesn’t hurt after cutting through tough meat or an awkward sized melon. The grip makes cutting things so much easier. The handle design actually acts like a shock absorber so it helps reduce any potential wrist or hand stress when cutting.

The blades make the cut too…literally. They are 440-A stainless steel and in knife terminology that means it is very durable and can cut through things with ease.

These knives are the first of their kind to transform the structure and design of the knife. Truly cutting edge.-Amber

Available online at daveckt.com

** Giveaway! Dave Cook Kitchen Tools is giving away a paring knife/cheese board gift set to a lucky daily dish reader. Please visit Dave Cook Kitchen Tools website and leave a comment here telling us a knife know how tip. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 14, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Like my kids need any more spring in their step–they’re already bouncing off the walls, down the hallway and on the furniture. Fortunately by “spring” I mean Eleven Collection’s latest spring styles. How fitting that today’s review follows right on the heels (again, pun totally intended) of my See Kai Run review from Tuesday. Eleven Collection and See Kai Run are sister companies; fortunately these sisters have the same stylish taste in children’s shoes!

My first review of Eleven Collection was in November when George received his Luc boots. Those sleek black boots have officially made him the coolest kid at church, and I’m not just saying that because I’m his mom and think all my kids are super cool. Those boots are stylin’, sturdy, comfy and easy to get on and off. Plus their unisex style means our little Livi will get to follow in George’s footsteps in about two years. With Eleven Collection shoes you can bet your 529 plan they’ll last through two if not three kids and still look great. Here are the basics behind Eleven (from my previous post):

Eleven shoes feature soft leather uppers, and flexible, durable rubber soles for traction. With a cushioned insole and easy on-and-off Velcro or zipper closures, the shoes are just as child friendly as they are style friendly. Plus they are low maintenance (wish my kids were too) because the high-quality leather makes them naturally water resistant. You only need to use a mild detergent or leather cleaner to and damp rag to keep them looking their Sunday best.

(And yes, I still wish my kids were low maintenance!)

George received the Joaquin from Eleven’s new spring line. The Joaquin is a simple yet classy brown leather sandal with a solid Velcro closure that’s sure to keep his feet in his shoes even when running at breakneck speed down a grassy hill. Plus the style is perfect for church, so he’ll still be the coolest three year old in his class. That’s all that really matters, right? He’s anxious to wear them but I have a feeling he won’t enjoy the feeling of snow between his toes. I’m thinking it should be at least 60 degrees outside before slipping on the Joaquins.

My other favorites from Eleven Collection’s latest styles are the Caper, Kasota and Laura–that pink and red Mary Jane is to die for! Similar to See Kai Run, the price tag on these shoes is a bit higher than what you might pay at a big box retailer but they will last a lot longer (multiple children for sure) and are a lot healthier for your little one’s feet. Check out their sale page where you can pick up a pair of Elevens for as little as $20. That kind of price puts a little spring in my step! –Emily

** Giveaway! Eleven Collection is giving away one pair of their super sweet shoes, winner’s choice! Please visit Eleven Collection’s website and leave a comment here telling us your favorite style. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 9, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

That phrase is from one of my favorite 80’s tunes (I shouldn’t have to tell you but it’s “Just Can’t Get Enough” by Depeche Mode…can you believe it’s a Wikipedia entry?!) and it runs through my head whenever I catch site of a pair of See Kai Run shoes (even the ones my kids have worn umpteen times).

No matter how many times we feature See Kai Run on the Daily Dish, I can’t get enough! Hopefully you’re not satiated either or we’ll have to stop reviewing their latest and greatest and simply-the-cutest styles and you’ll miss out on one of our favorite giveaways–and some fabulous shoes to boot (pun totally intended)!

Today’s featured shoe is from See Kai Run’s new Spring Collection, and it is to die for! The Jennae takes the peep-toe style and turns it into a shoe fit for your mini me! It comes complete with butter-soft sheepskin leather in a delicious raspberry color accented with cream piping and the sweetest little flower on the strap. Like other See Kai Run shoes it features a flexible sole, which makes it perfect for growing feet but can hold up to all those outdoor garden parties. Unfortunately, we live in Utah and you won’t find garden parties until mid June. Peep toe and snow don’t mix well!

In true See Kai Run style, the Jennae has a generous width with a wider toe box. This means even the chubbiest of feet can wear See Kai Run shoes. Honestly, we have not had a pair that hasn’t fit perfectly, and I’ve tried out many pairs and two sets of chunky feet! The shoes also have a breathable inner sole and lining, so no juicy feet even in warmer weather. (Maybe I should see about getting some custom-made SKR’s for myself!)

For some the price tag that comes with a pair of See Kai Run shoes is a bit high, but I’m telling you, they are more than worth it. These shoes last forever, and once your little one has grown out of them you can hand them down to the next–often in near perfect condition. And if you don’t have a “next,” See Kai Run shoes have great resale value. Plus right now See Kai Run has a few of their styles on sale in both their main collection and their newer Smaller line. Just try to control yourself when looking at the new Spring Collection. Like myself (and Depeche Mode), you won’t be able to get enough either! –Emily

** Giveaway! See Kai Run is giving away one pair of shoes, winner’s choice! Please visit the See Kai Run website and leave a comment telling us your favorite SKR style. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 7, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Sky S., the winner of the See Kai Run 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!

The above title should be sung to the tune of “I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee…” And my daughter will be so proud of me because it’s a super warm yet super stylish stroller accessory perfect for this cold winter weather we’re still experiencing here in the Salt Lake valley.

The BonneBonnets product line is for “Moms and Dads who want to stroll in style and add a touch of uniqueness and creativity to their strollers.” The collection consists of exclusive stroller Canopies that are available in a variety of styles (my fave is the Brooke) and Buntings, which are available in two styles (my fave is the chestnut).

BonneBonnets sent me one of their Buntings (aka “a footmuff of unsurpassed luxury, style and comfort”) to review on the Daily Dish. The Bunting’s patent-pending design includes PVC-free, hypoallergenic, ultra soft foam for warmth; plush, breathable cotton for comfort; and a design made to fit any stroller and which can even expand to fit toddlers. BonneBonnets is all about using the finest materials and superior craftsmanship yet their Buntings are machine washable. This is a must when it comes to stroller accessories that fit inside the stroller. It also has a bottom flap and back clips to keep it securely in place; no slipping and sliding when Mom takes a corner too quickly!

I was really excited to test out our raspberry Bunting, but due to unforeseen circumstances, namely unseasonably warm weather followed by a flu-ridden infant, I wasn’t able to take out the Bunting for a test stroll. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t unroll the Bunting and thoroughly check it out. I pulled at seams, buttons and smooshed the headrest to make sure it was as nicely padded as they claimed. I zipped and unzipped and checked out the fabric for softness. Though the denim-like material wasn’t super soft the breathable cotton lining was, and that’s most important! My favorite feature was the cute interior pocket where my little one can place her hands if they get too chilly.

My little one is finally feeling better after a long bout with the flu and just my luck, the snow is still falling here in Utah, so I may get my chance to test out our cute BonneBonnets Bunting before the spring thaw. And even if I don’t, knowing Utah it will start snowing again September 1st so it won’t be long before we can take it for daily test drives!

If spring weather has already hit (or summer weather if you’re in Arizona), then check out BonneBonnets’ super chic Canopies. The Canopy is designed to fit all Bugaboo stroller models and are a simple yet stylish way to pimp your stroller (for lack of a better expression). With ten styles from which to choose you’ll find the perfect one to suit your personality. After learning more about the BonneBonnets collection of stroller accessories, I have to agree with their statement:”So say goodbye boring baby gear and bonjour bonnebonnets!” –Emily

** Giveaway! BonneBonnets has given us one of their cute Canopies to give away to a lucky Daily Dish reader! (The style we have on hand isn’t featured online but it is super cute!) Please visit the BonneBonnets website and leave a comment on this post telling us your favorite Canopy style; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: April 3, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Xenia S., the winner of the BonneBonnets 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!

Do you remember those questions on tests that went something like “Puppy is to dog as _____ is to cat?” Today’s question is “Stretching is to yoga as skin care is to _____?” Unless you’re well versed in Ayurvedic skin care, you won’t have a clue. Let me fill you in: the answer is DoshaCare. DoshaCare is customized Ayurvedic skin care, but it is more than just skin care; it is a philosophy for life.

DoshaCare combines the knowledge from the Ayurvedic tradition of India with the best of western science to for a lifestyle approach that focuses on “authentic radiance.” Their skin care line helps radiate your inner beauty and actually evolves with you. With a series of questions under “Ayurveda & Dosha Types” you can find out your primary and secondary Dosha (the page also goes into more detail about Ayurveda and Dosha) and then from there you can tailor your skin care to match. As your skin changes throughout the year (and we all know it does) you can change your regimen along with it.

I answered those questions and found out I was pretty much Pitta all the way, so DoshaCare sent me their Pitta Cleansing Bath to review. Designed to protect and soothe normal and sensitive skin, this cleanser is 98% botanical and organic. It contains turmeric for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, hyperpigmentation correction and softening properties; neem to promote skin elasticity; and aloe vera for hydration and soothing. It was a good thing the information sheet I received with it had directions, for I could not find any on the box or bottle. I know, I know–lather, rinse and hopefully not repeat but I am one of those that thrive on written instructions. But I did lather and rinse…and if I was wearing makeup, I had to repeat. Plus, I’ve kind of gotten accustomed to “less is more” with most cleansers I’ve reviewed, and this one took a full pump and then a second full pump to get my face completely makeup free.

It did leave my skin feeling soft and hydrated, though not as hydrated as I would’ve liked. Though the scent was rather strong (albeit natural), I found it very earthy and somewhat relaxing. My husband walked in once while I was using it and even noticed the scent-not in a bad way, but how often is a cleanser that strong? I would have loved to have tried out the full line to see if I felt more “balanced” and if I felt it really were tailored to me and my primary Dosha.

As much as I should embrace the DoshaCare approach to life I’m not sure I’m in a place to do so just yet. (That statement probably shows I definitely should take the time to become more centered!) The Pitta Cleanser (4.2 fl oz) costs $34–a bit on the high end if you’re using twice as much as the next cleanser. But it is customized skin care, and I can’t say that Avon or Oil of Olay or any other skin care lines have ever asked me how well I sleep, what my appetite is like or how I react to stress. There just might be something to this DoshaCare thing! –Emily

** Giveaway! We are giving away a gift set to one lucky reader! (Note: The gift set may not include DoshaCare products but will include something equivalent if not better!) Visit the DoshaCare website and click on “Ayurveda & Dosha Types,” then take the test to find out your primary Dosha. Leave a comment letting us know what that is and include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 17, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Ann H., the winner of the DoshaCare 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!

Leslie Leyland Fields dispels this and numerous other parenting myths in her new book, Parenting Is Your Highest Calling and Eight Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt. I don’t usually read parenting books, though I did read The Five Love Languages of Children and was thoroughly enlightened–definitely one of my favorite non-fiction books. And I did enjoy Mother Nurture, which I reviewed back in July. But I was intrigued by the title since many moms like myself are often bombarded with guilt and worry when it comes to raising our children.

Now, before I received the book I was told it would have some scriptural references but the topic would be of interest to parents and families of all walks of faith. I am totally okay with that; I’m not one to shy away from a book that might reference other beliefs as long as it’s not a negative book if that makes sense. (I really enjoyed the “pray” section of Eat, Pray, Love and I’m definitely no yogi!) That being said I found Parenting Is Your Highest Calling to be a bit much for me. It didn’t have just a few scriptural or faith-related references; it was chock full of them. It was a bit heavier reading than I had anticipated (e.g. the myth titled “You represent Jesus to your children”). I just didn’t see myself taking the time to fill out the “Reflection and Discussion” sections at the end of every chapter, but then again, perhaps I’d be a better mother if I did. Who knows?

On the other hand, this book did make a great effort dispelling nine myths of parenting including “Having children makes you happy;” “Good parenting leads to happy children;” and my favorite, “You will always feel unconditional love for your children.” Now THAT one I know is a myth after birthing four very different children! I really liked this excerpt on page 23 from the section “Why do we have children at all?”:

Having children today defies personal economics. Web sites coolly calculate the cost of raising a child at anywhere between $150,000 and $1 million each. Children simply cost too much–and not just in dollar figures. They undo us. They shows us how much and how little we’re made of. It often seems that they come only to break our hearts. And we let them. We invite it all. We admit perfect strangers through our doors and decide to love them wildly, without condition, for as long as we live.

So why do we have children? The answer is simple: to learn to love. “At the heart of our desire to have children, then even beyond our hopes for happiness, is the longing to love.” That is probably my favorite part from the entire book. It’s such a simple yet beautiful concept…and it rings true.

From my favorite myth (”You will always feel unconditional love for your children”) Fields shares with us this insight:

Though we may not always feel a deep, unconditional love for our children, that does not mean we love them any less. When our children disobey, then they cause harm to another, when they choose attitudes and actions that cut against the holiness God desires, we will have an emotional response–if we truly love them. Loving them means that we desire their highest good. … We may feel anger, as God does. We may feel hurt, as God does. We may feel disgust, as God does. Love not only allows these feelings; it requires them.

Leslie is the mother of six, and as she points out in Parenting Is Your Highest Calling, imperfect like the rest of us. Hearing about some of her challenges and stories from other women makes it easier to dispel those nine myths and feel a little less guilty when your parenting isn’t up to par. Perhaps if I didn’t have some wonderful girlfriends who are figuring out this motherhood thing with me–and making me feel less guilty–I’d read more parenting books! –Emily

P.S. If you enjoy a good parenting book but aren’t sure how much religion you’d like with your reading, check out the book from the library first to make sure it’s right for you.)

** Giveaway! We are giving away two copies of Parenting Is Your Highest Calling. Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: March 13, 2009 (midnight). The winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Rebecca F. and Candice B., the winners of the giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Last September I reviewed LeapFrog’s uber popular (and for good reason) Tag reader. This little handheld reading wonder is still a big hit with all our kids, whether 18 months or 11 years, and we are continually adding books to the collection. Hint: it’s the gift that keeps on giving–and gives Grandma and Grandpa a great idea for birthdays!

Did you know March is National Reading Month? To be honest, I had no clue until I received an email from LeapFrog telling me about its latest effort “to bring attention to literacy and encourage families to make time to read together.” As if introducing the Tag reader to the world wasn’t enough, LeapFrog has launched its 1 Million Reading Hours campaign in conjunction with the NEA’s National Reading Month.

What is the idea behind the 1 Million Reading Hours campaign? By pledging to set aside at least 10 minutes a day, parents can contribute to the national goal of 1 million reading hours. But it’s not just about achieving a goal. When parents pledge to spend more time reading together with their children they reinforce the importance of shared reading time in their own family. So how does the program–and the giveaway–work? Here are the details:

Visit the 1 Million Reading Pledge page on LeapFrog’s site and enter the number of minutes you pledge to read per day. That’s pretty much it! All participants will receive special rewards and offers from LeapFrog–if they give you one on the Tag reader, use it! Now for the giveaway…and this is the super fabulous part. (Okay, spending quality time reading with your child is the “real” benefit, but let’s be honest…a giveaway doesn’t hurt!)

LeapFrog is giving one lucky Daily Dish reader:

• One Tag reader plus 5 books for personal use AND
• One expanded-memory LeapFrog School Tag reader plus 10 books to donate to their local library

To enter the giveaway you will need to visit the 1 Million Reading Pledge page and enter your pledge. (Yes, I mentioned this before but as we all know, some people don’t catch it the first time.) Then return to this post and leave a comment telling us how much time you pledged in LeapFrog’s 1 Million Reading Hours. On April 1st we will draw the winner from the comments posted below. (Please include a valid email address for our drawing.)

P.S. We’re not going to check LeapFrog’s records to see who really visited the site and made a pledge; we’re all about the honor system here at Boutique Cafe. Just know you’ll feel really guilty if you didn’t pledge and end up winning…

* Congratulations to Johannah B., the winner of the Tag Reader 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!

…but in this case, it’s the kind of complex you–and your skin–needs. Alba’s line of Advanced skin care products, which includes cleaners, toners, scrubs, masks and moisturizers, is formulated with their unique Marine Complex. This nutrient-rich complex has soothing and nourishing properties, helping enhance your skin’s “natural purity.” It also softens, detoxifies, heals and moisturizes. With that kind of a resume, I’d hire the entire line! Unfortunately I was only able to test the Advanced Sea Mineral Cleansing Gel.

This cleanser is a gently foaming (i.e. very few bubbles) gel that “lifts away impurities for glowing, healthy skin by delivering a synergistic blend of mineral-rich sea algae and antioxidant-rich green tea designed to combat the impact of harsh environmental factors.” It contains aloe and the aforementioned Marine Complex so it should sooth, hydrate, nourish, detoxify, firm and stimulate cell regeneration. Whew! It contains no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate or synthetic colors and is made with 100% vegetarian ingredients. Okay, so does it work?

Well, yes and no. First of all I must say the Advanced Sea Mineral Cleansing Gel had a fairly pleasant smell if a bit on the masculine side. (Of course, I used to smell my boyfriend’s jacket all the time so I kind of like that sort of thing.) It did a great job cleansing, though if I had especially heavy mascara or liner it took a second washing to completely cleanse the eye area. It didn’t cause me to break out at all, which is one of my tests for a new skin care product.

On the “no” side, after I had cleansed and patted dry, my face felt a bit on the dry/tight side, and I don’t like that feeling at all. Compared to my new favorite CellCeuticals cleanser, which leaves my skin feeling like it’s already been moisturized, the Alba Advanced Sea Mineral Cleanser felt like it had sucked whatever hydration I had right out of my skin. Not a good things as far as I’m concerned. But once I moisturized, my skin felt just fine and didn’t seem overly dry or noticeably drier overall. And the price is right at only $9–much easier on the budget!

My husband and I also tested Alba’s Aloe Mint Moisturizing Foam Shave, and this I loved! My husband’s comment? “It worked just fine.” Hey, if it’s not a super cool stroller or tech gadget, he doesn’t have much to say about a product. But I do. This shaving foam uses organic botanicals and Vitamin E to provide a smooth, clean and soothing shave. The foam actually helps soften hair. The Aloe Mint “flavor” uses an organic blend of aloe vera, green tea and calendula, so you have cooling peppermint (great during and after shaving) and antioxidant-rich green tea to refresh the skin. The aloe actually helps with skin renewal, so you’re covered post shave as well.

The bottle says “less is more” so I tested it out using only one pump per leg. Granted, I don’t shave the entire leg in winter, but one pump did cover from ankle to mid thigh. Hard to believe but it’s totally true! My real test was when I shaved an area I haven’t shaved since the pools closed after Labor Day weekend. (If that’s TMI, sorry!) I just had to see if I’d have the typical razor burn and/or ingrown hairs. This would be the real test…and Alba’s Aloe Mint Moisturizing Foam Shave passed with flying colors! Of course I wasn’t hopping in and out of swim suits but still, I am painful-little-red-bumps free and loving it!

Though the Advanced Sea Mineral Cleansing Gel wasn’t my favorite, the Aloe Mint Moisturizing Foam Shave more than made up for it. And at $6.95 I think it’s a worthwhile investment in shaving sanity! –Emily

** Giveaway! Alba is giving away a gift set to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Please visit Alba’s site and leave a comment telling us what Alba product(s) you’d like to try. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 10, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Maria M., the winner of the ALBA 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!

Soon enough here in Utah the chilly air will turn to dry heat and our white mountains will be green…which means it will be camping time!

Camping with all the right accessories can be a great getaway, but, unprepared camping can wreck the whole experience and make you despise everyday you are in natural beauty.

I recently discovered a little camping addition I will be packin’ in my bag– Shampoo Bars by Susan’s Soaps. These bars are perfect for a camper that doesn’t want to risk spills or leaks in their backpack. No need to pack shampoo and soap because the Shampoo Bar made of all natural wonders will clean your bod and your hair. So, now when you are in the big wide open you don’t have to worry about disposing any plastic bottle. Going green was never easier or lighter!

Before trying out the bar in the wild., I thought I’d try it out first at home. After working up a lather, I worked the suds into my hair and to my dismay no delightful smell, but, the Shampoo Bar contains no synthetic fragrances, preservatives or colors…so it shouldn’t smell! I was hoping more of the Fresh Citrus smell would linger on my mane, but, no scent could be traced to my bob. My hair got pretty clean but beware of tangles if you have long hair.

Nonetheless, I like the solid bar and ease of knowing no shampoo spills in my bag will ruin my camping trip. At a measly $6.50 per bar, this is a solid investment to add to your summer gear.–Amber

Available online at susansoaps.com

** Giveaway! Susan’s Soaps & More is giving away a Travel essential set to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Please visit the Susan’s Soaps website and leave a comment telling us one benefit from using handmade soaps/shampoo bars. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 6, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Elizabeth Y., the winner of the Susan’s Soaps 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!

…and more enjoyable for moms. When I don’t have fun bath time products to review I stick with the standard baby wash and bubble bath. They’re affordable and efficient at getting the mud and caked-on dirt off their little bodies. But I love it when I receive bath product samples for my kids–it’s a nice break from the typical Johnson & Johnson smell. And if the samples are from Tiny Tillia, it’s also a nice break from the boring, geared-toward-mom packaging!

Tiny Tillia was launched in 2006 by Tiffany Lerman, a London-born designer and creator of the successful Chester collection of fashion prints found on a variety of products, from handbags to scrapbooking. Tiny Tillia, her new line of children’s bath products, offers a range of all-natural bath gels, foaming washes and even hand sanitizers that feature a collection of really fun, truly delightful characters. The characters are even based on Tiffany’s family and are a heck of a lot more fun than the bland packaging of most store brands!

The Tiny Tillia collection has everything from “boo boo bandages” to diaper crème and everything in between. We received the All Over Foamy Wash in Tropical Blast and the Indy Sheep gift set, which included a Mini Bath Gel and the cutest little Indy Sheep stuffed animal. I absolutely love them both! The bath gel add just enough of a fun, non-floral scent to the bath, which meant my three-year-old son didn’t come out smelling too girly, and it had pretty good bubble power, though like most bubble bath it didn’t survive extended splash fests in the tub. (I have yet to meet a bubble bath that can do that.)

The All Over Foamy Wash in Tropical Blast had the best smell ever! Plus one pump was enough to wash the hair and body of one squirmy child. No need to stop mid lathering for a refill. The foaming wash contains aloe vera extract so it hydrates without irritating the skin and also has Vitamin E plus other essential oils to treat and protect the skin. For me, I fell in love with how it smelled. I even caught myself last night smelling my daughter’s hair after bath time and again this morning. It just smelled so dang good I couldn’t resist!

By the way, all Tiny Tillia products are people, earth, animal and environment safe and paraben free. I am anxious to try the Magic Cream, which relieves the pain of minor bumps with a homeopathic and hypoallergenic topical salve containing shea butter, tea tree oil and Vitamin E. Though the Tiny Tillia line was created with children in mind, don’t hesitate to try it yourself. Who says a thirty-something mom can’t enjoy bath time with a few character-themed products in hand?

** Giveaway! Tiny Tillia is giving away a gift set to one lucky Daily Dish reader! Please visit Tiny Tillia’s website and leave a comment telling us your favorite Tiny Tillia character (make sure to use its proper name!). Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 5, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Lisa C., the winner of the Tiny Tillia 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!

This week, Boutique Cafe is honored to feature a designer who I admire greatly for her natural sense of style. Each outfit Christie Archer releases, starts my head a’buzzing. I just love how she designs to let each child shine!

Designers Quote:

“My princess Ferry is my inspiration for every design that I do. Her current favorite designs are the peasant dresses with pockets for her to keep her treasures in and skirt sets so she can twirl like a pretty princess, lol. Though I try to design around her personal style preferences I personally tend to lean more toward non-traditional colors when choosing fabrics.” – Christie

**GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment for Christie below and you’ll be entered to win your choice of either a free peasant dress with banded bottom OR 30% off of a skirt and shirred back top set. Design to be discussed and fabric choices to be from what she has in her studio already. GOOD LUCK!! Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 6, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Shop Kustom Kids Boutique at her Etsy store**Please allow time for the show to load.

Okay, it’s not really spring (oh, how I wish it were!) but it sure feels like spring in my girls’ bathroom. We recently received samples from Full Bloom, the new spring line from Goody arriving in Target stores this month, and the collection is full of flirty florals and feminine colors. It’s almost enough to make me throw on some shorts and a pair of flip-flops. If only it were 30 degrees warmer and not snowing I’d be all over that!

I wish I had images to show you but alas, I could only find a couple and they weren’t even on Goody’s site. (The headbands pictured are the Flower Child headwraps.) I checked Target.com but I believe the collection is available in stores only. As soon as I receive a few images I will update this post, as you have to see these fabulous headbands, clips, scarves and ponytail holders for yourself! You’ll get spring fever for sure. When they arrived I actually raided the box before my girls could get to it. I pulled out the Misty Morning scarf and He Loves Me bobby slides for myself before letting the girls have at the rest. I’d have grabbed the Sweet Blossom ponypins but if you’ve seen my profile pic you’ll know I have no way of using them!

Already my girls have worn the Spring Day headband quite a few times, probably because its super soft and stretchy (no headband headaches with that one) and the Wildflower headband, which is one of their favorites. My youngest, though not “mature” enough for a scarf, loves to walk around like a princess wearing the Rainbow Sorbet scarf around her shoulders. How does a 1-1/2-year-old girl know to do that? I swear they come programmed! What I really love about the new collection is all the soft fabric headbands. (My favorite is the Spring Showers band) I don’t care how much attention is paid to details when it comes to the standard headband–you just can’t avoid getting those behind-the-ear aches if you wear them for very long. Along with fun florals they have quite a few tie-dyed pieces, which are a lot of fun for moms and kids.

Goody’s Full Bloom collection also includes some really sweet clips. My favorites are the ones hiding in my drawer, the He Loves Me bobby slides. I also really like the Buttercup bobby slides and Robin’s Egg jeanwire. Believe it or not, I’ve probably only named about half the products in the new Full Bloom line. And even though they’re very “girly” many of the styles can be worn by 30-somethings like myself without looking like we’re not dressing our age. I don’t much like to share but when it comes to Goody’s Full Bloom hair accessories, I don’t mind so much (except for the aforementioned bobby slides…those are all mine!).

You can find the Full Bloom collection exclusively at Target stores from February to May. Prices range from $1.99 to $7.49. If you want to start thinking spring I’d start shopping the hair accessory aisle at Target immediately! –Emily

** Giveaway! Goody is giving away a gift set of products from their new Full Bloom collection! Please leave a comment with 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.

* Congratulations to Debbie H., the winner of the Goody 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!

After listening and loving Justin Roberts’ Pop Fly CD I knew the next children’s CD our family reviewed had a tough act to follow. We were still dancing around to Pop Fly when we received Robert Schneider’s Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine. Would this “kindie” rock CD measure up? Could we make the switch? The answer to both those questions is “yes!”

First, a little background. Robert Schneider (aka Robbert Bobbert) is the mind behind The Apples in Stero, one of indie rock’s original music groups. He has a huge following, and not only for his music. Schneider is also known for his amazing mathematical mind and has been a featured speaker twice at the Mathematical Association of America’s bi-annual MathFest. Some may think that makes him a bit of a nerd; me, I think that makes him super cool!

For Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine, his first children’s CD, Schneider worked extra hard at being creative, even throwing out traditional instruments in favor of more “colorful” noises. Robbert Bobbert is actually an inventor/scientist and the CD includes a funny comic book introducing kids and parents to this new character. We found out the CD also has a fun little coloring book with the words to the songs so my kids could sing along. So what did we think?

• My oldest daughter: “I think it is a really good CD. I really like the tunes; they have really funny words. My favorite song is ‘Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum.’” (And she really liked “I Am a Clock” because she played that one quite often!)
• My second-oldest daughter: “I didn’t really listen to it. But I do like the mouse song (’Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum’).”
• Me: To be honest, Pop Fly rocks my kindie rock world just a little bit more than Robbert Bobbert, but I still really enjoyed the CD. My least favorite song was my kids’ favorite “Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum,” but I found it stuck in my head and couldn’t stop singing it to my littlest one, making her laugh every single time. I did enjoy “We R Super Heroes” and found myself doing a little mini head banging to that one. My favorite thing about Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine? The inscription on the inside of the CD flap:

I hope you like my new invention,
the shiny circle sound extension.
It plays my music through the air
just as if I were right there.
First, put the circle in the machine
then eat a purple jelly bean*
then turn the song releasing knobbert.
Your friend,
Robbert Bobbert

* Jelly bean not included

You can listen to some samples of Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine on Robbert Bobbert’s MySpace page. You’ll find it the perfect addition to your current “kindie” rock collection, and don’t be surprised if you’re singing “Fee Fi Fo, Fee Fi Fum” to your litte lones! –Emily

** Giveaway! Little Monster Records is giving away 3 copies of the Robbert Bobbert & The Bubble Machine CD! Visit Robbert Bobbert’s MySpace page and listen to “I Love Animals,” then leave a comment telling us something else (besides animals) he loves. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 24, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

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

It may be Friday the 13th, but I believe the 13th can still be a lucky day! (After all, I had my oldest son on a Friday the 13th, at 3:13 pm in delivery room 13 …and he’s an amazing kid).

Therefore with that I bring you an amazing giveaway on this LUCKY DAY from fabric designer Melissa Averinos. Melissa is celebrating her Two Year Blogaversary by giving you the present! She’s put together a sweet bundle of her popular Sugar Snap line (fat quarters, random sizes, charm squares, and other Free Spirit/Westminster fabrics that play with her collection).

All you need to do to enter is stop by her blog post and leave a comment. She is wanting to know how long you have been reading her blog, and be sure to leave your proper email address so she can reach you if you’re the winner. Good Luck everyone – how could you possibly lose on this lucky lucky day of the year!?

I’d say my children are pretty well balanced but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement. Take their diet. Though they don’t drink a lot of sugary drinks (hey, I’m doing something right), they sure don’t drink enough water. That’s why they were the perfect reviewers for Balance for Children, a non-flavored, homeopathic beverage containing spring water and Australian flower essences.

I’m familiar with spring water but flower essences? Apparently the use of flower essences dates back centuries across various cultures. More specific to Balance Water, Australian wildflowers are “particularly interesting and unique in their properties given their diversity, beauty, remote growing locales and the harsh conditions they typically have to endure.” Who knew? It’s actually quite interesting. I almost included info about the specific flowers used in Balance but it would have made the review too long. I highly recommend reading it; it’s extremely interesting!

Balance for Children contains four flower essences: Bush Fuchsia for creativity; Crowea for calming and centering; Black-Eyed Susan for focus and concentration; and Paw-Paw for digestion. These essences promote calm and focus while helping restore balance, all without affecting a child’s natural energy. (So maybe I wish it removed just a titch of their energy…) This enhanced natural spring water doesn’t have any flavors, colors, preservatives, artificial additives, sugar or calories. So what did my kids think?

Here you go:

• my oldest thought it tasted funny and didn’t finish her bottle
• my next oldest didn’t say much at all but downed hers
• my three-year-old sipped his while carrying it around the house thinking he was pretty cool to have his own water bottle
• my youngest (though below the suggested age of 2 to 9) enjoyed taking a swig from everyone’s bottle.

My opinion? My oldest must have been smoking something (no, not literally) because that water doesn’t have one tiny little ounce of taste to it. Yes, I had my own bottle while working out at the gym. I absolutely LOVED it. Sounds crazy but I loved that Balance for Children didn’t have an aftertaste. I swear Dasani and Arrowhead both have a funny aftertaste. It was crisp, clean and truly refreshing…and I’m not saying that just because I was hot and sweaty. I would really love my second oldest to drink a bit more and see if it does help her to focus. She is my “free spirit” and could use a little calming. We have a few bottles left so it’s worth a shot!

I will say I’m intrigued enough by the concept of flower essences to try Balance for Women, which is infused with eight flower essences including Peach Flowered Tea Tree for mood stabilization and Bush Iris for circadian rhythms. Heaven knows I could use more balance in those areas! They also have a Balance for the Mind and Balance for Traveling (helps combat the stresses of traveling, i.e. physical and emotional fatigue).

A six-pack of Balance for Children retails for around $7, which is on the higher end of bottled waters, but this isn’t your typical bottled water and it’s a heck of a lot better for your kids than the other ,strike>crap beverages you usually find them drinking. I say a little more balance in your child’s life is worth it! –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! Balance is giving away one six-pack of their fabulous flower-essence-enhanced Balance for Children. Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 12, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

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

We love a good CD, especially if it encourages family-room dance parties. Whether it’s Putumayo Kids’ Brazilian Playground or ABBA’s ABBA Gold, if it makes us move and groove without getting on Mom’s nerves (sorry to say many children’s CDs do that) it’s added to the collection. Well, we just added Pop Fly and I highly recommend you do the same. Yes, it’s a children’s CD but the fact that I’m a fan should tell you it’s really, really good.

The man behind Pop Fly is Justin Roberts. Apparently this guy had another big hit in 2006 with Meltdown (his 5th CD–where have I been?). After listening to Pop Fly I’m sorry I missed that one; I’m seriously considering buying it. But back to the CD at hand…Pop Fly is Justin’s 6th CD and a wonderful example of his “kindie” rock style (think of it as family indie rock). “Pop Fly,” the title song is all about the “occasional triumphs of a distracted outfielder” and is probably my most favorite; it really gets us moving! A couple songs later you have “Henrietta’s Hair” (my youngest daughter’s favorite) about the imaginative creatures living inside Henrietta’s hair. I don’t think my kids ever skip a song when listening to Pop Fly; I can’t say the same for some other CDs in our collection.

My family’s not alone when it comes to being fans of Justin Roberts’ new CD. Pop Fly was selected as one of Amazon.com’s “Best Children’s Albums of 2008.” To make the Top 10 list on Amazon.com is quite the accomplishment and yet no surprise once you’ve listened to Justin’s music. Don’t take it from me; here are some recent quotes from some very reliable sources:

• Los Angeles Times: “Childhood observed with wit and empathy and one of the most mellow rock ‘n roll voices around. Roberts weaves deft lyrics through layers of beautiful sound.” – Lynne Heffley
• Out with the Kids: “Without a doubt, the greatest children’s record ever made.”
• My oldest daughter: “Awesome! Cool! Awesome again! Fun! The first time I heard it I played it over and over again because I liked it so much. My favorite song would probably be all of them–it’s so hard to choose. Plus it’s a great CD to listen to while folding your underwear.”
• My second-oldest daughter:“I haven’t heard many of the songs except for ‘Pop Fly’ or ‘Henrietta’s Hair’ but I really like ‘Pop Fly’ because it’s a very good tune and very easy to sing along to and easy to remember. And ‘Henrietta’s Hair’ is a very cute song. It has very good details and is really funny about all the bugs.”

If you too find yourself hosting in-house dance parties for the entire family and would like to dance to something other than Now That’s What I Call Music 4,002 (okay, it’s only up to 29), you just HAVE to pick up Justin Roberts’ Pop Fly. One Pop Fly CD…$14. A child folding her own clothes…priceless. –Emily

*** Giveaway! We are giving away one copy of Justin Roberts’ Pop Fly CD! Visit Justin’s website and read his bio. Then return and leave a comment telling us what you found most interesting about him and/or his music; please include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 2, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Jennifer B., the winner of the Pop Fly 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!

* Congratulations to Jennifer B., the winner of the Pop Fly 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!

Okay, I didn’t really travel to Hawaii for this review, but I sure felt like I was there every time I applied the Papaya-Pineapple De-Aging Mist and De-Aging Body Balm from Pevonia’s Ligne Tropicale (Tropicale De-aging Line). The scent rocked my nowhere-near-tropical world!

I’ll get back to the scent in a moment. First a little bit about Pevonia’s Ligne Tropical. This powerful skin care line uses organic phyto-extracts and a revolutionary delivery system to “deliver a glorious sensory escape.” Tropical fruits and de-aging ingredients help repair, restore and rejuvenate skin. If you want to “preserve and reclaim youthfulness” this is the way to do it, at least according to Pevonia.

I received the Tropicale De-Aging Mist and Tropicale De-Aging Body Balm in the aforementioned Papaya-Pinapple scent. Holy cow, the combo of pineapple and papaya was heaven every time I used the mist and body balm! I’m a big fan of tropical scents (except for gardenia if that’s considered tropical) and this was quite possibly the best combination I’ve ever had the pleasure of smelling. I kid you not, I could not get enough of it! I kind of wish they had a perfume as well; I would definitely give it a special place in my medicine cabinet next to my bottle of So Pink from GAP.

So they smell really great, but do they really work? I can’t honestly say and this is why. The De-Aging Body Mist is supposed to give a boost of hydration and refresh skin during outdoor activities or any time of day. Aloe vera gel cools and soothes skin and chamomile calms skin. I applied it after showering–totally not when I should have done it since my skin was still fairly hydrated. Plus it’s the middle of winter in Utah and I’m not feeling the need to cool and refresh my skin. It’s cool enough! I will say it did cool my skin post shower and it felt great on my skin, but I will have to wait until the heat of summer to see if it gives that immediate boost of hydration my skin will need.

As for the De-Aging Body Balm, it’s mission is to smoothe the look of wrinkles on the body while repairing skin damage and brightening skin’s overall tone. It has retinol, collagen and elastin to improve texture and plump and soften fine lines along with shea butter to heal and protect skin. I’m still young enough that I don’t really have fine lines and wrinkles except for around my eyes, and this is no eye cream. I also have minimal sun damage so I wasn’t the best test subject for the Body Balm–and I didn’t feel like I could say to an older friend, “Hey, you’ve got all-over body wrinkles. Would you try this out and see if it de-ages your skin? I’ll keep my fingers crossed it works!” I will say it was a very rich and creamy lotion and though a little didn’t go a long way, it did a great job as a moisturizer.

I am intrigued by Pevonia’s De-Aging Line enough to give it a go in, say, another 20 years. Until then I’ll enjoy it as a wonderful, tropical, wish-I-were-in-Kauai early morning pick-me-up and hopefully keep my skin from aging as quickly as it normally would! –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! Pevonia is giving away a gift set to on lucky Daily Dish reader! Visit Pevonia’s website and leave a comment telling us what other line of skin care intrigues you; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: January 30, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Michelle H., the winner of the Pevonia 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!