Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews

Uniquely U Boutique: A great spot for great finds

I've mentioned my love affair with hair bows in the past ... the problem is storing those suckers. Shoving them in a box is so boring and then it's hard to see what bow you want to pick. So I was psyched to hear that people make such things as "bow keepers" that help hold and display hair bows in a way that almost makes them artwork! Uniquely U Boutique's Letter Bow Keepers ($20 to $27) are beautiful and do exactly what they're supposed to. They're well made and I loved how precious each hair bow looked clipped to the long strands of ribbon on each side.

I also loved the Portrait Hair Bow Keeper/Message Board ($25 to $30). The detail and styling was adorable and it looked so stinkin' cute hanging on my daughter's wall! I really loved that this style was multi-functional. I could not only display her cute hair bows, but notes, pictures and even random doodles she made in school the other day.

All of Uniquely U Boutique's products are really well made and withstood my daughter tugging and pulling on them to get them down to her level! Shop at UniquelyUBoutique.com.

Simon Says: Where cool rules

You know that game your children play? The one where one child commands everyone else to copy a series of actions? Well, if they were playing it with you right now it would probably start something like this: Simon says… please start shopping for me at Simon Says! And then it would continue like this: Simon says… while you’re shopping, please make sure you get all the coolest clothing brands and, hey, maybe some cool accessories and toys, too. And normally, you’d be rather annoyed to hear your children speaking to you like this. But when they’re right and shopping online at Simon Says turns out to be as much fun for you as it is for them… well, you’ll probably forgive them.

Simon Says, a Toronto-based retail store, has launched a new website selling beautiful clothing, shoes, accessories, and toys for children ranging from newborns up to 10-years-old. They recently sent me a selection of their oh-so-fabulous merchandise and my kids have been hitting the town in it -- like little celebrity babies in their own right -- ever since.

Basic Comfort's Ultimate Crib Sheet Color & Grow Bedding

I swear by Basic Comfort's Ultimate Crib Sheet. This crib sheet is amazing because it's the only cotton-topped waterproof sheet that snaps onto the bars of your child's crib.  Which makes it really easy to get it on and off, especially when you really need to put a fresh sheet on -- at 4 am.  What I didn't know is that it comes in several different colors and has matching cute bedding. The top is 100% cotton, with the middle is polyester/rayon middle and the bottom is 100% vinyl.

The Ultimate Crib Sheet in Color comes in natural, cool blue, warm orange, purple with green dot, green with blue dot and rose. It's a quick change sheet, a mattress pad, a waterproof pad and a super absorbent pad. In the two years since we've owned the original version, no liquids have ever leaked onto our mattress and it really does install and remove in seconds (without undoing bumpers, etc). Finally, I've been liberated from the boring white sheets that have covered our crib for the last 2 1/2 years!! Since Ben is still in the crib, he is currently testing out the Ultimate Crib Sheet in purple with green dots. It's actually thicker than the regular Ultimate Crib Sheet (I recommend washing it a few times to get it softer).

Click Continue Reading for the rest of the review

Babylicious: Oh so pretty and fresh

The very first time I laid eyes on Babylicious products at my local baby boutique I literally drooled. From the gorgeous prints and designs to the luscious fabrics, I was hooked. Their line covers everything you could need from blankets, to towels, to bibs,  to the newly added breast-feeding pillows. If you like a certain print, you could deck your entire nursery and gear out in it, or you can mix and match prints for the best of all possible worlds.

Click continue reading for my favorite Babylcious products.

A is for Art: A cure for the common print

You put so much thought into your child's nursery. The perfect crib, the right shade of paint for the walls, beautiful crib bedding.... Shouldn't you also select some cool artwork too? A is for Art makes original adorable prints on canvas, as well as murals, rugs and even custom artwork for your child's nursery. 

I liked A is for Art's prints because they were whimsical and creative. The company believes that "art for children can be sophisticated, fun and original" and the "sophisticated and silly sit side-by-side with the endearing and extraordinary." Children will definitely not outgrow this art. It will take them from infant hood to the preteen years.

Click continue reading for the entire A is for Art review.

Rock-A-My-Baby Double Coat Rack: It's not just for coats

By CBB New Reviewer: Julie C.

My daughter is a total dress up kid. Each and every day consists of some type of princess dress or tutu. Her box of dress up items was overflowing ... until a few days ago when I received the Rock-A-My-Baby Double Coat Rack from A Cool Kid.

I now have a super cute place to hang up some of her dress up costumes, scarves, hats, etc. I can even set a few pairs of her dress up shoes on the nice, wide base! Not only is it adorable, but it's nice and sturdy too! As my husband was putting it together, he said "Wow, this is really good quality", which is a HUGE compliment since he's usually the first one to complain that something is a piece of junk.

Now if you don't need a coat rack, don't worry, they have TONS of other adorable items, including some of the cutest rocking horses, chairs, bookcases, toy boxes and furniture I've ever seen. Browse around their website and you'll be sure to say "oh, how cute!" a bunch of times! 

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Take 10% off AND free shipping with coupon code "CBB" when checking out!  Not only have they given us the coupon code, but one of our lucky readers will WIN one of their Adirondack Chairs (your choice, which will be shipped directly to you)! 

Kukunest: Unique and adorable toddler bedding

By CBB Guest Reviewer: Julie

From the same creators of the well known Giddy Giddy Clips comes unique children's bedding! KuKunest has been around for a few years now, but they recently added toddler bedding to their production line. My daughter has the set pictured here in her room and people compliment it ... all the time! It's so cute and unique, definitely not your run-of-the mill Dora The Explorer or Disney Princess bedding (which I'm sure my daughter would love, but I would cringe at).

Not only are their products super cute, but they are so soft and silky. Like most sheets and duvet covers, I expected them to be a bit stiff and scratchy, but they arrived and were soft and silky from the minute we opened the package. Another fantastic thing about KuKuknest bedding is that it is 100% free of major toxic chemicals. With all of the lead scares going on lately, this is a great thing to know. 

Read more about Öko-Tex (which is a textile certification standard) and see all of the other fabulous products they offer at www.Kukunest.com.

10Grain Kids Small Paul by Paul Frank Collection

I've said it before and I will say it again - we're Paul Frank freaks around here. Which is why we were beyond excited about the 10Grain Kids Small Paul by Paul Frank collection that brings our favorite monkey and some fabulous kids furniture together in a perfect mod marriage.

10 Grain Kids is known for their simple, clean lined, practical pieces. The collection is well rounded with chairs, tables, a small desk, ride on scooter, and a step stool. But my two favorite pieces are the Log Rocker ($215) which accommodates one to two children on a trip to the moon or treasure island, and the Julius Pad ($199) which is part nightstand and part action filled dollhouse. All the the pieces in the 10grain collection are carefully crafted, multi-functional and sure to stir the imagination.

We're also super excited about these removable, repositionable Vinyl Wall Spots ($68). They promise to fill any room with plenty of monkey business, and without damaging the surfaces. My son will be getting some of these monkeys jumping on his bed frame, as well as decorating his walls.

Exclusively for Celebrity Baby Blog Readers: Save 10% when you enter the coupon code "cbb10" at 10grain.com

Trans Am Sofa from SoFine Kids: The best seat in the house

I have a favorite sofa in my house. Sadly it is too small for me to sit on. But it is just the perfect size for my 3 year old. It is a Trans Am sofa from SoFine Kids. That's right, my boy has a Trans Am!

My son may not be old enough to appreciate the retro chic, automotive-inspired styling and easy wipe-clean vinyl upholstery on his iconic, little sofa. But he's just thrilled to have a perfectly scaled piece of furniture to lounge on. And I imagine, when he sits on his little sofa, he is envisioning himself in the driver's seat.

If you have never laid eyes on SoFine Kids sofas, you had better brace yourself. Three of the site's four sofas are named for classic cars - the Mustang, the Trans Am and the Chevy (pictured on the right). Just looking at them made my heart race. Matching your decor is not an issue as the sofas come in dozens of color choices to suit any gender child and any room color scheme. Choosing just one is the tough part. These sofas are extremely well made and durable, and will make for many fond memories and cherished hand me downs. They are extremely well priced for fine kids' furniture as well - running from $225 to $245. And you'll be happy to hear -- shipping is free!

Picci Bedding: Anything but ordinary!

We had such boring bedding for my son when he was an infant. White sheet, white bumper. No frills, nothing special. For my second baby, I wanted something a little fun (plus his bumper and sheets were so grimy and didn't hold up very well anyway). I came across crib bedding from Picci and fell in love. 

We chose the Hippy Balls Bedding Set ($350), from Picci's Contemporary Collection (pictured to the left). I went with this playful 100% cotton soothing swirly palate of aqua, green, tan and white with chenille accents because it perfectly matched the colors in our Sea and Sky themed nursery. The set contains a fitted sheet, bumpers, dust ruffle and comforter. I liked the fine quality of the bedding (and most likely the bumpers and the comforter will be used as our baby girl gets a little bit older).

From the elegant Cotton Collection, you can choose from 13 different styles. If I was going to go for pink, I'd check out the Hippy Flowers ($350) -- a fun modern floral collection of hot pink, pale pink and white, or the Scarlet ($300) -- a classic pink with tiny white ruffles or the Taormina ($300) -- a sweet pink and white set with organdie trim. They have several blue and neutral color bedding sets, also. If you want to go really luxe, choose from Picci's silk collection - absolutely stunning! Choose from Champagne, Caterina, Grace or Aspin.

Founded nearly 40 years ago in Florence, Italy by Paola Cherubini, Picci's gorgeous collections are handmade in Italy from 100% Egyptian cotton and 100% silk. Picci also uses hypoallergenic padding and non-toxic paints in all bedding and accessory products.

Celebrities such as Marcia Cross, Heidi Klum, Usher, Nancy O'Dell, Ming-Na, Tony Hale and Casey Affleck are fans. Picci's Petra bedding set was featured on the season opener of ABC's Extreme Makeover  Home Edition on September 30, 2007.

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Shop Barebabies.com and use coupon code CBB-10. This will entitle you to free shipping for any Picci order over $99 along with a 10% discount for anything from Picci.

Reviews Roundup: Baby shower presents that provide something for mom, too

I have two favorite baby shower gifts to give. And both involve buying Mommy some valuable time.

My first favorite are the Tiny Love baby mobiles. I received one as a present for my own shower and it was my most useful gift. From the moment I placed it on my child's crib I was in love. And my daughter loved it, too. She loved watching it from even a very young age and it gave me a great chance to take a shower. It soothed her to sleep and entertained her exactly when needed. When I purchase it for friends now, I pick up the Symphony Light & Motion Mobile - Nature mobile.

 

My other favorite gift is another Tiny Love product, it's the DVD MagIQ. I am not one of those moms who believes in letting your youngster watch TV. But I also believe in everything in moderation and sometimes a simple shower is needed. The DVD MagIQ is the sweetest, cuddliest little plush toy. With a sensor that calibrates to the DVD it comes with. He sings along with the DVD and the songs are catchy and cute. My peanut would sit for that DVD for at least 20 minutes, and most of it was spent snuggling with the plush or messing with his cool textured feet or glowing belly button.

Time alone is a true blessing to any new mom and both of these products buy you some of that -- in limited quantities, but time nonetheless.

Update: Town Tote Now Available at Babycakes of Scottsdale

Update: Babycakes of Scottsdale is now promoting some of their own, exclusive products. I fell in love with their new Town Tote ($119). Great for the beach, strolling with baby or even as a bag for mommy. So many pockets and its so cute!!! Comes in 6 metallic colors: pink, light blue, silver, gold, dark blue and black. You're not going to want to miss out on this!

Original review: Looking for a great gift idea for a baby shower or a new baby present? Be sure to check out Babycakes of Scottsdale. Not a diaper cake, this marvelous gift looks and smells like a fragrant flower arrangement. It's filled with cleverly hidden baby items. Choose from one, two or three tiers at different price points ($190, $294 and $399). Packed creatively, this will look gorgeous on a hospital bedside or in baby's nursery. 

The Babycake I checked out was stunning. It had of 6 onesies in various pink patterns, 6 flannel receiving blankets, several washcloths, a bib, a pair of lacy white socks, a pink plush chenille blanket, pink and white flowered stuffed bear by Amy Coe, a deep pink skull hat and adorable ivory lace booties.

I was hesitant to take it apart completely because it really was gorgeous! I kept finding baby items inside, which delighted me. The Babycake was decorated with life-like silk flowers and smelled incredible. I loved this scent so much that I asked about it. Owner Hillary Rubin told me each bouquet is misted with Anne Fontaine home spray from Paris.  She feels that "Every mom deserves an everlasting splash of freshness."

You can also customize the Babycake. How great is that?  Want to match a nursery's decor? A baby shower theme? A favorite color? The company will work with you to make a custom cake to your specifications.

Celebs also love this product. Amanda Peet, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Tori Spelling, Marcia Cross, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, as well as Nancy O'Dell have all been gifted with fabulous Babycakes. How delicious it that? For more information, go to Babycakesscottsdale.com. They ship everywhere (and it will arrive in perfect condition).

Wee Gallery: Wall art for the wee'uns

One of the few things I knew about babies before I had one was that they are drawn to contrasty, black and white images.  I knew my niece, nephew and cousins had lots of black and white toys when they were babies.  However, I was registering for baby gifts during my pregnancy, though, I found there were very few products being sold that were black and white.  I guess it was the trend ten or so years ago and now it's not.  That's why I was excited to discover Wee Gallery's baby art cards.

Hand drawn by Surya Sajnani, mother of two and graphic designer, the animal-based art cards are a great way to stimulate baby's visual senses and teach them about animals.  Surya and her husband/business partner Dave gave Anya the Original, Sea, and Farm sets of the 5x7 cards last year and she LOVED them.  She loved to look at the cards, while we told her the animals' names and what sounds they made.  She soon began mimicking the sounds- "mow" for cats, "mmm" for cows, and "baa" for sheep.  Since then, they have introduced three more sets of the cards- Garden, Dino, and Jungle, which has won the National Parenting Center's 2007 Seal of Approval.  (The Farm set won an iParenting Media Award.)  The rounded corners made them safe for babies to handle, plus they are printed with non-toxic inks on sturdy high quality art card stock.  I love the use of chunky and narrow lines, swirls, and lines to create the animals.  They are very modern but also reminiscent of native folk art, of which, I guess, they are, especially since Surya's designs are definitely influenced by her East Indian heritage.

You can turn the cards into a mobile using one of the photo mobiles they sell or frame them and hang them on the nursery or playroom wall. Their newest lines include wall decor.  The wall graphics are self-adhesive (and non-wall damaging) sticker versions of their cards with colorful elements like swirls, trees, grass, plants, and dots to complement the images. The wrapped canvas wall hangings are 9x12 coordinating tryptichs- sets of three canvases printed with uv-resistant inks (so they don't fade over time).  They are available in five sets: Savannah, Undersea, Farmyard, Garden, and Jungle.  The images are the same animals featured on the art cards, but with accented colorful backgrounds. 

If you or your child is a fan of the designs, you can even now purchase individual screen printed note cards in three design sets (Original, Farm, and Sea), plus letter pressed congratulations greeting cards featuring a peacock.

If you're looking for a unique gift for a new baby, I highly recommend bundling a few sets of the cards, a mobile, and one of their infant onesies (available through Cafe Press). They also sell 25"x35" and 11"x17" posters and different notecards via Cafe Press.

HABA introduces new kid's furniture and felt food lines

From my favorite wooden toy company, HABA, comes a new line of kids twin beds.  I'm going to warn you- they are not inexpensive.  In fact, they are probably more than most parents would think of spending on a child's bed but once you realize that not only are they the coolest beds ever, but they are more than just beds- they are also play environments. 

The Garden Chalet Twin Bed is a garden for your little princess.  The solid birch wood bed includes six fabric strands of pink roses and a "flower pouch" which can be used for storage. The light green fabric canopy completes the garden fantasy.  The bed frame can be used separately from the garden house, and when she outgrows the garden, she can use the bed as a standalone piece.  A matching writing desk and chair complete the look.

The Cozy Cabin Twin Bed transforms your son or daughter's bedroom into a mountain top chalet. You can assemble all three pieces to form a bed and canopy, or put the bed aside and just assemble the sides and roof for a colorful, sturdy play fort.  The roof of the cabin is a striped blue cloth hung over wooden dowels that can also be used to hang mobiles and favorite toys.

Like all HABA products, they are made of solid wood and non-toxic paints and stains.

Also, new and notable from HABA is a felt food toy line called Biofino.  Because the company is German, one of the food kits includes wiener schnitzel and fries, but you'll also find plenty of American favorites like a burger and fries and pizza (but please hold the anchovies!).  Your kids can also prepare a felt lunch of sandwich fixings and two kinds of pasta. Rounding out the food line are two aprons, a shopping basket, oven mitt and potholder and a cooktop that can be set on a table edge or steps. 

They also have an extensive collection of wooden toy veggies, fruits, sweets, breads, etc. Makes you wish you were a kid again!

Litsy Designs: Precious Plaques & Ben Turns 2!

Litsy Designs was kind enough to send me a gorgeous hand-painted plaque ($38) with a firetruck, personalized for my son Benjamin's 2nd birthday. Even the small details were adorable!  Since my child is wild about firetrucks, I chose their version for him.  The plaque has a bright red firetruck (with a number 2 because he turns 2 today!) on the light blue and medium blue striped background. His name is on top of the fire engine. I love the red grosgrain ribbon that will be used to hang it. Ben and my family love it! It will be the first thing we hang in his new bedroom (the baby will be going into his room). Thanks to Litsy Designs for giving Ben such a great birthday present!!

Owners Patsy Smith and Lisa Wojnovich, both moms with young children, teamed up in January 2005 to create their company. Their artwork has been featured on Grey's Anatomy - they created 7 large canvases for the Pediatric Ward on the show.

The company creates plaques for girls - future fashionistas will love the shoe and purse plaques, as well as boys - the guys will love the dinosaurs and trains (as well as the firetruck one we were sent). You can also get one of their canvases for your child, check out their line of beautiful paintings. I loved their In the Garden Trio - three garden themed canvases, with a ladybug, a daisy and a butterfly, all hand-painted on 12 x 12 " canvases with a 1 1/2 painted edge, so you don't have to frame them. 

Need an idea for a baby gift? How about a personalized birth plaque ($50)? Hand-painted on a 7" square plaque and come in pink or blue. The child's birth information is added on, with first and middle name, date of birth, height and weight, as well as their first initial in lower case in the center of the plaque. They also have darling plaques for the holidays, bathroom and playroom.

Ready to shop? Go to Litsydesigns.com.   

Ned Design: Art You Never Outgrow

Artist Susie Lubell created Ned Design with the idea that this is art you never outgrow - it can be moved from the nursery to dorm room to studio apartment to first home, back into the nursery! Full of charm and spirit, you're going to love the Neds as much as we did!!

According to Ms. Lubell, "Ned Design couples the simplistic charm of folk art with the sophistication of modern design. The Neds are a collection of watercolor paintings which have been digitally reproduced to achieve the rich color and translucence of the original works.  Printed on heavyweight coated paper, Neds are available as framed prints, note cards, gift cards, personalized stationary or invitations."

The owner, Susie Lubell, is a self-taught artist and entrepreneur who has been sketching lopsided watercolored figures for 10 years before she launched her company. After she had her own baby boy, she developed her Neds into a line of distinctive prints - great for a nursery or anywhere in the home. They are so adorable and you won't find anything like them!!

Actor Joshua Malina, starring on the new ABC show airing this fall, Big Shots, is a client. He commissioned two Ned originals for his kids and has ordered prints as gifts.

Want to get a Ned Design for your nursery? Shop online at Neddesign.com.

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Use the code celebrity and get 15% off your order.

L'il Monkeys Personalized Baby Blankets

I love personalized items for my child. Especially blankets! L'il Monkeys, from Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada, makes adorable personalized blankets with ribbon tags for babies.  And, yes, they will ship to the U.S.!

We checked out one of their sweet soft waffle weave fleece blankets ($57.30 U.S. dollars when I converted it to from Canadian dollars) in petal pink, personalized for a friend's baby (see picture). The super soft blanket we checked out, was a roomy 29" by 40", perfect for laying out on a floor or carpet or to gently cover baby in a stroller.  When Abigail is older, she can even sleep with it in her crib.

The letters were multi-colored with lavender, sea blue, lemon yellow and lime green. The baby's name had two i's in it, which owner Andi Aizer dotted with yellow hearts. So cute!   I love the different soft ribbon tags on the top and bottom of the blanket. The letters were not sewn exactly straight, which only added to the charm of the blanket for us- you know it was handmade with love. Aizer with position the name anywhere you want on the blanket, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Names longer than 6 letters will be charged $3.82 for each extra letter, up to a maximum of 10 letters on a blanket. Blanket is machine washable and dryable, just don't wash with velcro (it will hurt the ribbons). But you don't have to remember that, Aizer includes washing instructions with each handmade blanket. If you want to make your blanket reversible, it will cost you $71.63 U.S..

They also make smaller, 11" by 11" Mini - Teething blankets ($23.87 U.S).  Personalized with  your baby's first initial. You can even order a large blanket and a teething blanket as a set ($76.40 U.S.). Or, for a furry friend in your life, grab a blanket without ribbons ($47.75 U.S.) To see all your options, check out the order page.

Andi started making blankets while she anticipated the arrival of her twin baby girls, Emma and Alexis, in 2004. When her girls were born, they used their blankets everywhere - in their car seats, in the stroller....people started asking Andi where they could get a similar blankets and a business was born!

Want one for a 'Lil Monkey in your life? Order here.

Serena & Lily's Gently Used Program

Do you have a new baby coming or need to update your baby's room?  Serena & Lily has partnered with Baby Buggy, a New York City non-profit founded by Jessica Seinfeld, to outfit the thousands of cribs they donate every year to infants in need.

Through the Gently Loved program, you can donate your gently-used crib bumper to Baby Buggy, and receive a "thank you" gift certificate of $100 from Serena & Lily, good toward any purchase on their website. (Note: minimum purchase of $250 required.)

Email sales@serenaandlily.com for details.

Simply faBOWlous: A fabulous

I have literally spent the better part of the last two years trying to figure out how to best contain Catie’s hair accessories. I kid you not it sometimes seems as if our entire house is filled with hair bows and headbands.  So I really can’t begin to share just how excited I was when I received the Simply faBOWlous hair bow holder in the mail. 

Serving as functional wall art (or “fun”ctional as the ladies of Simply faBOWlous put it), each hair bow holder begins its life as a salvaged picture frame and is then hand-painted and designed. You simply attach your clips to the ribboned backing and hang your headbands (or, in our case, toddler-sized purses) from the little knobs along the bottom of the frame. 

Simply faBOWlous hair bow holders have been gifted to a slew of celebrities, including Mia Hamm, Amanda Peet, Marcia Cross, A.J. Langer, Angela Bassett and Ani DiFranco. 

Check out the selection at www.faBOWlous.com.

To celebrate Celebrity Baby Blog's Review of the bow holder, Simply faBOWlous is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders.

 

 

 

 

Baby Fabulous: Name in Brights Blanket

After we wrote about Baby Fabulous’ appearance at Jayneoni’s Boom Boom Room last winter, the company was nice enough to send my daughter Catie her own personalized Name in Brights blanket and I have to say, we adore it.

The gorgeous blanket is made of a super-soft plush chenille “swirl” fabric that you want to wrap yourself in.  The backing, as well as the hand-appliquéd name is made of a striped cotton print. At 36” x 48” it is a great size. In fact, we took it to Central Park this weekend and laid it out on the grass so we had a nice place to sit and eat our snack.

Though some might balk at the price ($178), this blanket will easily give you your money’s worth since there’s nothing about it that a teenager or adult won’t love. A timeless piece, the Name in Brights blanket would make a great gift.

Celebrities who own personalized  Name in Brights blankets include Gwen Stefani, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Patrick Dempsey, Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet. Other celebrities who were present at Jayneoni’s Boom Boom Room were gifted or placed orders for their own Name in Brights blanket.

The Name in Brights blanket is machine washable and shipping is free on all orders.  To order your own, check out www.babyfabulous.com.

 

Babycakes of Scottsdale: A Delectable Gift

Looking for a great gift idea for a baby shower or a new baby present? Be sure to check out Babycakes of Scottsdale. Not a diaper cake, this marvelous gift looks and smells like a fragrant flower arrangement. It's filled with cleverly hidden baby items. Choose from one, two or three tiers at different price points ($190, $294 and $399). Packed creatively, this will look gorgeous on a hospital bedside or in baby's nursery. 

The Babycake I checked out was stunning. It had of 6 onesies in various pink patterns, 6 flannel receiving blankets, several washcloths, a bib, a pair of lacy white socks, a pink plush chenille blanket, pink and white flowered stuffed bear by Amy Coe, a deep pink skull hat and adorable ivory lace booties.

I was hesitant to take it apart completely because it really was gorgeous! I kept finding baby items inside, which delighted me. The Babycake was decorated with life-like silk flowers and smelled incredible. I loved this scent so much that I asked about it. Owner Hillary Rubin told me each bouquet is misted with Anne Fontaine home spray from Paris.  She feels that "Every mom deserves an everlasting splash of freshness."

You can also customize the Babycake. How great is that?  Want to match a nursery's decor? A baby shower theme? A favorite color? The company will work with you to make a custom cake to your specifications.

Celebs also love this product. Amanda Peet, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Tori Spelling, Marcia Cross, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, as well as Nancy O'Dell have all been gifted with fabulous Babycakes. For more information, go to Babycakesscottsdale.com. They ship everywhere and they will give you $20 off with the code: Ilovebabycakes. How delicious it that?

dwell introduces dwellkids, bedding for kids

dwell bedding just launched a new bedding line for kids, dwellkids.   The modern bedding is available in twin and full sets and contains dwell’s fresh distinct look. I am so excited because Josh and I love dwell's modern approach to juvenile design.  (Anya has their clover blossom print.)

Christiane Lemieux, founder and chief creative director of dwell, tell us that almost as soon as dwellbaby was launched in 2003, customers started asking for bedding for when their children moved into big boy/girl beds. Using the same colors and patterns as those found in dwellbaby, the new collection includes linens for the twin and full-size beds used by older children.

The lighthearted animation of Garden, with its design of winding branches, leaves, and blossoms, has a lyrical quality with broad appeal. Likewise, the geometric dot pattern of Chocolate Dot is whimsical and elegant.  Even the playful horseshoe/cactus/boots graphics of Cowgirl contain a wit that can easily find their way into an older child’s room.

A refined color palette also helps to bridge the gap between dwellbaby and the new collection.  As Christiane states, “We like to stay away from pigeonholing kids into powder pink and powder blue.  If we do a pink, it’ll be an off pink, anything from a dusty rose to a deep, burgundy pink.  Not every young girl loves powder pink.”

All linens are packaged in an appealing set that includes duvet, sham, flat sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases. Dwellkids is available in nationwide (stores can be found on dwellshop.com).

Serena & Lily introduces their low VOC paint collection

Update: We painted Anya's room in our new house Shell and I can confirm there was minimal odor, if any. It went on nicely and required just two coats.

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We love Serena & Lily's fine children's linens and were thrilled to learn they have  introduced a new non-toxic paint collection featuring thirteen wall colors and two trim colors.  The collection coordinates beautifully with their existing bedding and accessories collections, and offers the perfect hues for any room.

Choosing between the deep rose color Punch (left, middle), the vivacious berry pink Juice (right, middle) and the more delicate pale pink Shell, you're bound to find the most perfect pink for your child’s room.  The collection also includes the sophisticated, rich brown Chocolate (right, top), the warm green Sprout (left bottom), the saturated blue Chambray as well as the neutral Oatmeal (right, bottom).

In addition to the beautiful colors, the new paint line has low VOCs and low odor, which make the collection among the safest and least toxic on the market.  V.O.C.s are "volatile organic compounds".  Volatile organic compounds are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. All paints have VOCs (as do thousands of indoor products), so Serena & Lily formulated a paint that contains no traces of VOC (although legally, because anything over .01% is not considered "zero, they have to say "low VOC" vs. "zero VOC").

The paint also features a matte-scrubbable finish, which makes cleaning any extemporaneous wall art easy and effortless.  Visit www.serenaandlily.com to see the complete collection.

Pumpkin Noodle: A great place for baby gifts!

Whenever I’m looking for a good baby gift I turn to Pumpkin Noodle. Known for its simple-yet-sophisticated style, the line focuses on sweet sayings applied to clothing with decorative ribbon embellishments. The concept is simple but the ribbon tanks and yoga pant sets (the Daddy’s Girl one, perfect for Father's Day and just recently purchased by Vanessa Bryant for her and Kobe's two girls, is pictured here) are adorable.

Pumpkin Noodle also has a sweet and simple collection focused on adorable “studies” in all things baby with screen-printed phrases such as cute.ology/the study of me. They also offer hand-made frames and other decor to decorate the nursery with, washer/dryer safe cashmere-like clothing and blankets by Kashwere and ultra soft blankets and pillows by Little Giraffe. There is a lot to choose from!

One of the reasons why I love this particular company best for gifts, however, is the fact that all Pumpkin Noodle products arrive in a signature purple gift box wrapped in tissue, tulle and double-faced satin ribbon. Each order also includes a personal, hand-written note from owner, Tracy Rains – I love that!

Celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Gweneth Paltrow, Heidi Klum and Denise Richards have all been gifted with Pumpkin Noodle products for their kids and most recently, Pumpkin Noodle participated in a virtual baby shower for Marcia Cross.

Check out the selection at www.pumpkinnoodle.com.

Bloomers Baby Diaper Cakes: A celebrity favorite

A staple of a baby shower these days is a diaper cake and Bloomers Baby Diaper Cakes seems to be a celebrity favorite. 

These cakes are created with layers of disposable diapers and are then adorned with cascading silk flowers. Bloomers Baby Diaper Cakes offer fresh and modern designs in a variety of styles, colors and sizes. Each cake is carefully assembled by hand and is set on a silver scalloped cake platter, decorated with silk flowers and topped with a keepsake porcelain baby block before being wrapped in white tulle, tied with a satin bow and secured with an old-fashioned diaper pin.

These cakes make a great centerpiece for a baby shower, new baby hospital gift and a great decoration for baby’s nursery!

Gwen Stefani received a leopard cake as a gift for Kingston. Other celebrities who have enjoyed Bloomers Baby Diaper Cakes include Matt Damon, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Angela Bassett, Tori Spelling, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Debra Messing, Denise Richards, Angie Harmon, Britney Spears and Jolie Richards. 

For a list of more than 300 specialty boutiques and stores that sell them, or to order online visit the website: www.bloomersdiapercakes.com.

Until Kara: A natural baby blanket

A growing trend within parenting communities is to search for chemical free alternatives to baby products and this includes clothing and crib bedding as well. Until Kara is a company that was founded on that principle. Michelle Savin, the company’s owner, created a natural nursery for her son in 2001 after discovering his sensitivity to many chemicals he was being exposed to. Cut to the birth of her youngest daughter, Kara, and a company was born.

Using the finest organic cotton, Until Kara creates luxurious and hazard-free products for your baby. The company offers blankets, rattles and will be launching a bedding line this Spring. We can’t wait!

To purchase or to find out more visit www.untilkara.com.

b*Fab Name in Brights Blankets: A celebrity fave

Baby Fabulous, a trend-setting infant and toddler company devoted to easy-care styles with flair, recently made an appearance at Jayneoni’s Boom Boom Room. Baby Fabulous was a big hit with the celebrities.

Angie Harmon took home personalized b*Fab Name in Brights blankets for both of her daughters, Avery and Finley. Tia Carrere and Sibi Bale (Christian Bale’s wife) placed orders for custom Name in Brights blankets for their daughters. Other celebrities that were found admiring b*Fab products include Sherri Shepherd, Carnie Wilson, Kevin Sorbo, Bill Bellamy & his wife, Tricia Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Rena Sofer, and more.

The Name in Brights blankets are the b*Fab signature product, each custom made-to-order blanket has baby’s first name hand-appliquéd across plush chenille is backed and bordered with a fun print.

To order your personalized Name in Brights blanket, check out www.babyfabulous.com.

Philips Digital Baby Monitor: No interference guaranteed

Ever go into your baby’s room only to hear your neighbor’s entire phone conversation coming through the baby monitor? I think it has happened to every parent at some point. As fun as it is to eavesdrop on the neighbor’s phone calls, it’s quite another thing to fear that they are doing the same with your calls!

Now Philips has introduced a new range of  zero interference DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication) technology baby monitors that take care of that problem for you. Using an innovative, digital wireless technology that originally developed for use in cordless telephones, these new monitors guarantee no eavesdropping or interference from any other device (other baby monitors, cordless phones and cell phones). The result is sound quality that is as clear as standing next to your baby’s crib. 

The baby unit’s ultra-sensitive microphone picks up every sound the baby makes and the crystal-clear loudspeaker on the parent unit transmits this sound perfectly. The microphone’s sensitivity on the baby unit and the loudspeaker volume on the parent unit can be adju