Hug your little ones in colour!

The BabyLuxe:
Australian made Huggalugs super funky Huggers will keep little legs and arms covered, protecting them from the elements and hard surfaces.

What makes them practical & luxurious?
I received my Huggalugs in the mail this week, and I am so excited to share them with you! I admit I was slightly apprehensive at first, putting something so similar to the leg warmers I wore in dance class 20 years ago, on my two boys. But now that I have seen and tried them, I can confidently say that there is nothing feminine about them. Both of my kids just loved theirs, and even my husband admitted that they are pretty cute. That is saying a lot!

Huggalugs can be worn as layers under pants or shirts, or on their own, with just a diaper or onesie. I personally adore the onesie & huggalug look, as shown on my baby in the photo! It is a perfect combination for a cool summer or warm fall or spring day. Oh so practical!

The quality of Huggalugs is what makes them luxurious. They are made of 100% merino wool, which is an extremely soft, lightweight wool, that insulates in cool weather, and absorbs moisture in warm weather. Merino is also naturally UV resistant so it will protect the little bubs from the sun's harsh rays.

At such a great price, you have to try out some Huggalugs today! Bediboo online boutique has one of the largest selections of Huggalugs in the US, so check them out below.

View the entire collection here:
http://www.bediboo.com/hulegarmwa.html
Use coupon code "luxe15" to receive 15% off until August 31st - so hurry!

Also - Bediboo is excited to announce their first retail location, at 4321 Harford Road in the Lauraville neighborhood of Baltimore, will be opening in mid-October. See the Bediboo homepage to sign up for details!

Keep baby toasty warm this winter

The BabyLuxe:

The JJ Cole Original Bundle Me Hat is a super soft, cozy hat made of plush shearling. The stretch lining grows with your newborn.

What makes it practical & luxurious?

As a mom of two winter baby's, I can certainly appreciate a winter hat, that not only keeps baby toasty warm, but is also luxuriously soft to the touch. The JJ Cole Original Bundle Me Hat is just that! With its plush shearling, and stretch polyester lining that grows with the newborn, this sweet hat is the perfect compliment to the Original Bundle Me car seat cover. With fall & winter just around the corner, and lots of new babies arriving daily, why not shower the new mom or mom-to-be with a complete JJ Cole Bundle Me set?

View the entire collection here:

http://www.pokkadots.com/itemsDetail.cfm?pcid=6&cid=157&item_num=JJC-BH

Make any nursing mom feel beautiful!

The BabyLuxe:
The Straplette is a stylish reminder for today’s modern nursing mom to keep track of which breast her baby fed from last or which breast her baby will begin on. The Straplette is placed around the strap of your bra and can be easily switched from one strap to the other with one hand during a feeding session, while remaining discreetly invisible to others.

What makes it a practical little luxury?
As a recent breastfeeding mom myself, I can attest the frustrations associated with how severe sleep deprivation can alter your ability to remember simple things, like which breast your baby fed from just a couple hours ago. Yet, most lactation consultants recommend nursing evenly on both breasts to avoid breast engorgement and maximize your milk supply, especially in those beginning days of your baby’s birth.

The Straplette is a fashionable alternative to the safety pins and ribbons that older generations have used on their bra straps. And although we can only hope no one but mom, baby {and maybe dad} see this little fashion accessory, it will truly make any new mother feel stylish and beautiful! And we all know that a positive self-image is so crucial in those early post-partum days!

This is my favorite part: Once you are finished nursing you can lay your Straplette in your baby’s scrapbook as a keepsake to remember your breastfeeding experience between you and your baby. This sweet memento would have been more than enough to convince me that I needed some Straplette’s!

View the entire collection:
http://www.straplette.com/Boutique.html
Special FREE Straplette promotion! Email lisa@straplettes.com after a purchase has been made, and let her know you recently made a purchase. She will include one FREE Straplette along with your purchase!

Memorable gifts for your special occasion

The BabyLuxe:
Katie’s Keepsakes beautiful handmade wall tiles. Each wall tile is a custom piece. You choose the inscription, shape, font and colors of your tile, making a wonderful, personalized keepsake for yourself or loved one.

What makes it a practical little luxury?
When I first saw Katie’s tiles on her web site, I thought they were really cute, and a unique alternative to the many other ways that parents’ personalize their baby’s nursery. So I contacted her about doing a BabyLuxe feature. Katie sent me a few samples of her work, and to be honest, I was completely blown away!

They are absolutely gorgeous in real life! The colors are extremely rich & the design quality is top notch. These little tiles are perfectly practical since every parent wants a unique way to display their baby’s name and birth stats in the nursery. The attention to detail, design options & colors make them a total luxury that any new parent would just adore!

Katie mentioned to me that the feedback that she’s received is that these are much more beautiful in real life, than they are on the web site. I have to agree 100%, which is why I’ve tried to capture their true beauty with natural sunlight in these photo’s.

Go ahead, order a Keepsake for yourself or a loved one. I promise you will not be disappointed!

View the entire collection:
http://www.katies-keepsakes.com/index.html
Use the code “BabyLuxe” for 15% off your order!

First time mom lesson one - smaller than you can imagine!

The BabyLuxe:
ITZY•BITZY is Zutano's premier line of newborn and preemie clothing. This adorable and very special collection has been meticulously designed to fit brand new babies weighing between 4 and 8lbs. Uniquely organized in 6 sweet print/solid/stripe families, of 6-7 body styles each, itzy•bitzy comprehensively provides every garment a newborn will need in its first delicate days of life.

What makes it a practical little luxury?
I always knew the importance of choosing a special outfit for my baby’s coming home celebration. After all, the only event that even comes close to the number of pictures you’ll take on that first day home from the hospital, is your wedding day!

So when I was pregnant with my first son, I eagerly shopped for that perfect outfit, and settled on a luxuriously soft baby blue one-piece from the Koala Baby boutique line. As inexperienced as I was, I didn’t really take size into consideration. Well, the very first lesson that I learned as a new mom was that newborns are smaller than I ever imagined! At just 6 and a half pounds, there was no way that he was going to wear that adorable 0-3 month outfit at 2 days old. I wound up taking him home in a basic blue sleeper, which was also a bit too big, but sufficed. It was practical, but far from luxurious. The second time around I was much better prepared with a cute little newborn size sleeper from the Little Me collection. Although it was cute, when it was all said and done, this one was definitely more practical, but still not quite luxurious enough for that special day.

Enter the ITZY•BITZY. This collection would have fit my needs perfectly! Totally practical & oh so cute!

See the collection here:
http://www.zutano.com/

For your lil' Pirate - Arrgh!

With a heatwave sweeping the nation, it's comforting to think that fall weather is just around the corner. With fall, comes great Halloween fun and lots of pretend play! Along the lines of pretend play, pirates are all the rage these days. So whether your little one is simply obsessed with them, or you are planning a whole party around them, here are some great pirate finds!

arrr ... change me booty tee or onesie

Soft-soled pirate shoes

Shopping Cart & Highchair Cover at The Polkadot Platypus

{don't forget your Polkadot Platypus discount...15% when you mention Polkadot}

Skull & crossbones bib

Pirate Party Invitation by Peanut Butter Kisses

Look closely at how perfect the wording on this party invitation is!

{don't forget your PB Kisses discount...15% when you mention BabyLuxe}

Pottery Barn Kids Pirate Party Collection

{shark's blood}

How I Became a Pirate – hardcover book

Pirate Floor Puzzle by Baby Cie

Doing diaper's in style {the 2nd time around}

Stumped about what to give your expecting friend who already has everything from her first or second baby? Why not give her a reason to get excited about the least exciting part of motherhood? Give her the gift of stylish diaper changes!

Start with one of a variety of {container} options that your friend may actually have on her registry, such as that fabulous diaper bag she wants, a diaper stacker to match the nursery, a dirty diaper disposal pail, or a lined wicker basket for the changing table. The first thing you'll want to add is diapers, of course! Any brand would do, but try and go with a size 2 or larger, since most babies go through newborn and size 1’s fairly quick, and she may already have enough of those.

Next add a luxurious or practical diaper changing pad. For luxury, I love the Buttie’s from Bella Tunno. For practicality, I love the Skip Hop Pronto Mini Changer.

Top the changing pad with a Made By Angie wipes case, an absolute necessity for every stylish mama on your list.

Then throw in a few fun accessories, such as Diaper Mates scented disposal bags, diaper rash cream, and a bottle of hand sanitizer!

There you go, the perfect gift for the mother who has everything!

Time for a little R & R

Hi everyone! Just wanted to give you a head's up, that I'll be taking a few days off for a much needed vacation. See you next week!

Creative toy storage

I can't recall where I first learned about the VIA toy storage system, but I just wanted to post about it, because I think it is super cool & I think more parents need to know about it!

Based in Portland, Oregon, VIA systems are ready-to-assemble modular wood toy boxes that connect to create different looks and sizes. Each box is made from lightweight, yet durable baltic birch plywood & comes with simple assembly instructions. You can purchase as many boxes as you want, and with the various color and shape options available, the design possibilities are endless. Use the system in the baby's nursery, the playroom or even the living room.

Visit the VIA website for more details, pictures & purchase options.

Innovations in bath time fun!

Bath time has always been a favorite for both of my babies. Recently, there have been quite a few new products introduced to make bath time a little simpler, safer, cozier & more fun! Along with these new picks, no bath time gift would be complete without a practical infant tub {or you could go a bit more modern with this one}, tear-free shampoo, cleanser & hydrating lotion.

Here are my picks for a bath time baby gift!

WashPOD by Prince Lionheart

Frogpod by Boon

Flo by Boon

Coocoose by Coochicoo

Toys by Elegant Baby

BathArt Non-Slip Removable Decals

Mustela baby hair & skin care


How cute is that WashPOD? Why not use the POD as the basket, and fill it with all the other fun bathtime stuff! Enjoy a *splash* of creativity with this one!

Win some Jack & Lily baby shoes today!

With skid resistant suede soles that allow developing feet to learn, balance and build strength, Jack & Lily are some of the best soft-soled baby shoes on the market today. They are handcrafted from the softest Lamb Touch leather, and encourage baby to play & discover his world. With the new soft touch patches that come on many of the designs, Jack & Lily shoes are not only durable & a wonderful alternative to hard-soled footwear, but fashionable too!

I am offering a pair of Jack & Lily shoes to one BabyLuxe {daily} reader today.
Here’s how to win:

1 – Subscribe to BabyLuxe {daily} by entering your email address above
2 – Go to the Jack & Lily website, and check out over 70 adorable colors & designs
3 – Send me an email to let me know which one is your favorite

The 10th person to email me with their pick{s} will win a pair of Jack & Lily baby shoes!

While you are on the Jack & Lily web site, be sure to take advantage of their current promotion for free regular shipping in the US & Canada. Use the code “FREESHIP” at checkout.

If you are in the Charlotte area, check out "Shower Me With Love" in Southpark - they are having an amazing sale on many of the adorable J & L designs!

Congratulations to our first weekly giveaway winner!

I am excited to announce our first weekly giveaway winner, Chelsea in Washington! Your package is on its way. Enjoy!

There will be another winner this Friday, to one lucky subscriber. Names are drawn at random, from our subscriber list, so don't forget to sign up for your chance to win.

Shop & dine in style

I received my new cart cover in the mail yesterday, from The Polkadot Platypus! I was so excited, as this is one of those must-have baby items that I didn’t have for my first baby. Since Alex was born, I rarely go grocery shopping with the kids, for the simple reason that I had no where to put my groceries when the boys are with me. I hate putting the infant carrier up on the handle section of the cart, because it just makes me nervous. So the carrier would always go in the “cargo” section of the cart, thus leaving no room for the groceries. So when my cart cover arrived yesterday, I immediately made a plan to do a grocery run last night, with just the baby!

First of all, the cotton fabric of my Cuter Than A Duck’s Butt cover is gorgeous. The quality and cozy comfort of the design is also impeccable. Mind you, this was my first time with a cart cover, so it took me a minute to figure out how it goes on, and what to do with the nylon straps & high impact buckles. But the little instruction card that came with it helped me get him strapped in in no time. Once on correctly, the entire seating area of the cart was covered, so although the baby was leaning to the side a bit, because he is just shy of supporting himself sitting up, he couldn’t get his toothless smile on any nasty germs. Have you seen the recent articles on the germs associated with shopping carts? That’s enough to make any parent uneasy about their baby sucking on the bar. Now, the drool that wound up on the cover, that’s another story! But CTADB covers are 100% washable & tumble dryable in the machine, which is great for those of you with droolers like mine. CTADB covers are unique in that they are one size fits all, meaning that they also accommodate "double" shopping carts, like those that you see in the large warehouse stores. That means, you can use one cart cover, for two kiddo's! They also fit on all standard restaurant highchairs & park safety swings, which is an added plus. This is one practical & luxurious baby must-have that no parent should go without!

The Polkadot Platypus offers one of the largest selections of these covers, along with a ton of other totally adorable baby items! They truly are your one-stop shop for all your baby gift-giving needs, and even offer a baby registry to new and expecting parents. They are offering 15% off when you enter the code “POLKADOT” in the checkout.

Customized designs, to tell your story

I met Angela Ray a while back, when she was just getting started with her photo birth announcement business, Peanut Butter Kisses. Besides her adorable company name & beautiful designs, from the moment I met her, Angela just evoked a strong sense of kindness, whimsy & a whole lot of class. I hired Angela to do our 2006 combination holiday & moving cards that we sent to friends and family last winter. She was extremely pleasant to work with, and provided several rounds of proofs, to make sure we ended up with exactly what we wanted in our card design. The entire process, from start to finish, couldn't have been more satisfying.

Fast forward several months and Peanut Butter Kisses launched a whole new signature collection called Storyboards. Storyboards are the perfect solution for those of you, like me, who have literally thousands of pictures on your computer, just waiting for a prominent display somewhere in your home. How do you go about organizing those displays, much less choosing which photo’s to print, and which to leave behind? Storyboards are a beautifully unique way to display your photos. Angela customizes each Storyboard, by using your existing digital photo’s, which she optimizes for free, including cropping & toning, adding text if you wish, and creates a beautiful custom masterpiece. Storyboards are available in multiple sizes and arrangements, professionally printed and mounted with luster coating for protection and arrive ready for framing or display on a photo ledge.



Now that’s what I call the perfect solution to an all-to-common household dilemma. Head on over to Peanut Butter Kisses today, and check out her entire collection of customized storyboards, birth announcements, holiday cards, party invites & more! Don’t forget to mention “BabyLuxe” in the comments section of check out, and receive 15% off your order!

BabyLuxe {daily} 1st Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Arwen, in Texas! Arwen was the 15th person to answer the contest question correctly, to win her very own Bella Tunno Diaper Ditty! That was Courtney Cox's daughter Coco Arquette, who sent a personalized thank you note to Bella Tunno, for her play smock. She said, "Dear Michelle, Thank you for washable playsmock. Great idea. Saves my pretty dresses. xoxo Coco".

Arwen, your Diaper Ditty is on it's way! Enjoy!

We'll be giving away one more great gift, to one of our lucky subscribers, today! All you need to do is sign up for our daily editorial and you are automatically entered to win. If your name is drawn, you will be notified, and you can choose between a boy or girl gift. Good luck!

In wipes we trust...

Why is it that I feel like I might possibly be the last cool mama to have a Made By Angie’s wipes case? I don’t know… She’s been around quite a while, and yet I just got my hands on one of her gorgeous cases. In a way I am glad I waited, because I got to pick from a fabulous assortment of fabrics, that weren’t available when I first learned about Angie 2 years ago.

Angie says, “Having kids is a dirty job. Made By Angie handmade baby wipe containers make it easy to have fun while doing your dirty work! I started Made By Angie to fill a void in the baby accessory market. Bored with my plain wipes container that I pulled out of my diaper bag several times a day, I craved color and funky fabrics!"

Angie's cases are handmade & are upheld to the highest quality standards. If you have not already picked up one of these practical & luxurious wipes cases for yourself or for a friend, I suggest you hop on over to the Made By Angie web site right now, and get one. She is offering free shipping to all of my readers just by entering the word “BABYLUXE” in the comments section.

For the nursing mother...

Each Thursday, rather than reviewing a particular product or boutique, I will share with you some great ideas for "themed" gift giving!

Nursing mothers have it pretty rough during those first few months of baby's life. Why not brighten her day with a Breastfeeding Baby Basket! For the nursing mom, a practical & luxurious gift set should include some or all of the following (click on links to be redirected to retailers):

• Boppy pillow & cute cover
• Bebe Au Lait nursing cover
• Cute burp cloths from Baby Sophia Gifts
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, a LLL Int'l Book
• Lansinoh lanolin cream to protect & heal sore nipples
• LilyPadz silicone breast pads or Lansinoh disposable breast pads
• Mommy and Me classic nursing necklace (I wish I had one of these!)

I hope this list has inspired your inner creativity, and you come up with a practical & luxurious gift set for your favorite nursing mother! She's sure to appreciate the thoughtfulness!

The Diaper Ditty from Bella Tunno {giveaway}

As a former baby boutique owner, I have been approached by a number of talented baby product designers over the years. One of my favorite designers, who also happens to be located just a few short miles down the street from me here in Charlotte, NC, is Bella Tunno!

Bella Tunno carries a wide assortment of stylish baby accessories, including bibs, burp cloths, binkers and play smocks. It is their newest product that I am most excited about though; the Diaper Ditty!

Bella Tunno's Diaper Ditty is a funky clutch that disguises diapers and wipes, and converts any bag into a diaper bag. It's a posh and portable changing station that looks fancy, keeps diapers fresh, and makes diaper changing almost fun! It includes a secure parent pocket on the back, and a loop to hang over doors or hooks to keep it "hands free" and it comes with or without a ringlet, for easily attaching to the stroller or carrying it on your arm.

I have a brand new Diaper Ditty here, that I am excited to give away, to one of my lucky readers! All you need to do to win is be a BabyLuxe {daily} subscriber and be the 15th person to email me the name of the celebrity baby that is featured on Bella Tunno's web site!

You can find all of Bella Tunno's stylish products on their web site, where you can enter "BABYLUXE20" for 20% off your entire purchase!